scope:

Scope of handbook

This handbook is intended to guide and assist Track Managers, Area Track Managers and Section Track Managers in the selection and use of plant and achieve the standards and corporate objectives required by the company for track maintenance.

Section 2 considers very briefly the important aspect of critical resources and job plans to ensure the optimum use of resources. This is because, Track Handbook 21, Planning maintenance resources, goes into more detail and explains what the critical resources are which includes materials, transport, plant, people, time and finance more extensively. Section 3 considers selecting plant and the processes of task and risk analysis are included to help in deciding which is the most appropriate item of plant to use. Statutory regulations and plant legislation and other governing factors are reviewed in section 4. Section 5 describes the process for obtaining track plant and equipment and explains why the use of registered suppliers and approved plant will ensure compliance with legislation. Section 6 is concerned with the plant operational safety plan and includes the requirements for competance and training in relation to the operator and supervisor. Section 7 considers site preparation and the delivery and storage arrangements for plant. Section 8 is concerned with the management and supervision of plant and overseeing the safe use of plant on a daily basis, and considers pre-use inspections, the care of hand tools, machine guarding and plant signs and notices, and the issue and care of personal protective equipment. Section 9 discusses the need for monitoring plant performance, and considers the benefit of establishing plant performance.

Familiarisation with the handbook will ensure an awareness of the legal and corporate requirements for both plant managers and users, and the processes which they need to follow, such that they can demonstrate their commitment and contribution to the safe and effective management and use of plant, equipment and tools.

The trend over recent years has been towards ever-increasing mechanisation of the task of installation and maintenance of track. With the limited engineering hours much of our work is performed with the assistance of plant and, providing that the proper plant has been selected from a reputable supplier and it is properly supervised, then the work is likely to be performed safely, efficiently and to an acceptable standard. Failure to select approved plant, the use of poorly maintained plant, or the poor planning or operation of the plant, may result in injury or loss to people, the process, property or the company and work performed to an unacceptable standard.

The Track Manager's organisation has the overall responsibility for plant and equipment used at LUL, however, the selecting and controlling the use of plant and equipment is either the responsibility of LUL or jointly with the contractor approved to do the work. This handbook deals with the procedures which need to be followed to carry out this responsibility effectively. The range of plant and equipment considered includes large on-track plant such as tampers and maintenance trains to smaller plant whicn includies saws, drills and other small equipment routinely used for day-to-day working.