UK Railway Controller of Site Safety Course or COSS Course

Controller of Site Safety or COSS is a person qualified with Network Rail to ensure safe practice for work occurring on or near rail infrastructure. Their primary role is to set up a safe system of work to protect staff from trains and trains from staff and activities.

The Controller of Site Safety course aims to train staff to correctly determine their responsibilities and duties when acting as a Controller of Site Safety (COSS) when setting up a safe system of work on or near the line

The COSS competence is required to be held by anyone who is required to set up a safe system of work on or near the line for a group (two ore more).

Controller of Site Safety (COSS)
Overhead Line Permit (COSS OLP)
Conductor Rail Permit – Testing using a Live Line Tester (COSS CRP LLT)

This course will take learners through the procedures as set out in the Rule Book; Handbook 6 (General Duties of an IWA), Handbook 7 (General duties of a COSS, Handbook 8 (IWA, COSS or PC blocking a line), Handbook 9 (IWA or COSS setting up safe systems of work within possessions), Handbook 10 (Duties of the COSS and person in charge of a hand trolley) and Handbook 13 (Duties of the person in charge of the siding)

The course includes the importance of using the correct communication protocols and adopting the appropriate behaviours to be able to carry out this role safely and effectively.

The aim of the course is to provide learners with the skills and underpinning knowledge required to undertake Controller of Site Safety duties in line with the COSS unit of competence.

At the end of the training the learner will be able to:

Demonstrate their ability to interpret correctly relevant parts of the Rule Book, Handbooks and relevant Network Rail Specifications when acting as as COSS

Demonstrate their understanding and ability to set up a Safe System of Work before they or any group of staff is allowed to go ‘On or Near the Line’

Deliver a safety briefing with the opportunity to demonstrate and practice during the course

The preferred safe systems of working where the staff are protected from line open to train movements, either by blocking some or all lines to traffic or controlling the distance the group is from the track (called Safeguarded / Fenced / Site Warden Warning areas in order of consideration). This method was formerly called a Green Zone. This is the safest way of working due to the higher risks with trains moving at speed, although many incidents still happen within blocks.

Open Line working (formerly known as Red Zone) means the lines are open to train movements; this is seen as more risky than Safeguarded / Fenced / Site Warden Warning areas, and is avoided in the rail industry where practicable.

The COSS is responsible for the safety of the entire group and is subject to prosecution should someone be killed or injured by their negligence.

To become a COSS someone should have served a suitable period of time on the railways and undertake a five-day course (6 if including the DCCR competency). This is then followed by a period of mentoring by an experienced COSS and then independent here regular assessments to ensure that the subject is competent to undertake their role safely and effectively.

The rules around performing the role of a COSS are stated in the Rule Book [1] a set of documents issued to track staff detailing their duties.

A COSS is distinguishable on site by wearing a blue armlet with white lettering the word "COSS".

Previously, the COSS was known as the Person In Charge Of Work, or PICOW.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *