SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Occupational Certificate: Railway Safety Inspector

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
102158	Occupational Certificate: Railway Safety Inspector
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner-TETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate	Field 11 - Services		Transport, Operations and Logistics
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	330	Not Applicable	NQF Level 06	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0425/24	2018-07-01	2025-12-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-30		2029-12-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Railway Safety Inspector. A Railway Safety Inspector inspects railway operations, audits railway safety management systems and investigates railway occurrences in order to effectively promote and monitor the enforcement of safety compliance and continuous safety improvement in the rail environment in accordance with prescribed standards and legislation.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Inspect railway operations in accordance with prescribed standards and legislation.

Audit railway safety management systems in accordance with prescribed standards and legislation.

Investigate railway occurrences in accordance with prescribed standards and legislation.

Rationale:
In South Africa, we have approximately 288 railway operators. In terms of Act 16 of 2002, as amended, each operator is required to be in possession of an annual Safety Permit in order to operate. In order to apply for a permit, each operator has to demonstrate that they have implemented a Safety Management System (SMS) which complies with, among other things, the following:

It must be a risk based system in which the risks are continuously assessed and controlled.

The operator is required to regularly audit its safety management system and develop corrective action plans to address deficiencies. This includes inspections of components and sub systems.

The operator is obliged to investigate railway occurrences, identify causes and develop corrective action plans to reduce the chance of recurrences.

Historically, railway safety management systems have been developed at head office level while implementation and monitoring at depot level has been performed by managers, supervisors, and safety, health, environment, and quality (SHEQ) officers on an ad hoc basis. The numerous audit findings identified when the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) conducts audits on operators is evidence of the ineffectiveness of the current practices.

The Railway Safety Inspector (RSI) qualification will produce inspectors with a wide range of skills including functional engineering knowledge in the key railway disciplines as well as hazard identification and risk assessment skills, auditing, inspecting and investigating skills and knowledge of how to develop and assess railway safety management systems.

The RSI qualification will provide railway safety inspectors with the necessary confidence and competence to carry out their core business of conducting audits, inspections, and investigations and to make findings and recommendations relating to any of the key technical disciplines of a railway system.

The RSR currently employs an inspectorate of approximately fifty persons at various levels including interns, trainee inspectors, junior inspectors, inspectors and principal inspectors. It is estimated that at least forty of these individuals are currently in need of a railway safety inspector qualification. The RSR is growing fast, and the RSI qualification should become mandatory prior to appointment as a Railway Safety Inspector.

The qualification has been developed based on the knowledge and skills required in order to succeed as a railway safety inspector in the RSR ambit. However, it will be just as applicable to the numerous railway operators in South Africa.

The target audience is, therefore:

Matriculants, graduates wishing to enter the railway safety environment.

Risk professionals wishing to enter the railway environment.

Staff of railway operators in South Africa (SA).

Staff of the RSR.

Developers of operational risk assessments for the railway industry (consultants).

Developers of safety management systems on behalf of operators (consultants).

The content of the qualification is such that it could easily be transported to Southern African Development Community (SADC) region or other selected countries in Africa. The minimum entry level for this qualification is an Level 4 with mathematics and science as well as three years of relevant experience. A candidate who achieves the qualification of railway safety inspector will have a good all round knowledge of railway engineering and will be equally valuable as an internal auditor, inspector or investigator or as an external regulator.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record.

RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

Entry Requirements:
Level 4 qualification with Mathematics and Physical Science and a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in the railway and environment.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge/Theory and Practical Skill Modules:
Knowledge/Theory Modules:

325705002-KM-01, Transport in context, Level 4, 5 Credits.

325705002-KM-02, Rail operational risk management, Level 4, 5 Credits.

325705002-KM-03, Train Service Technology, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-04, Track technology, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-05, Rolling stock technology, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-06, Electrical traction technology, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-07, Train authorisation (signalling) technology and Railway telecommunications technology, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-08, Railway operating technology, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-09, Train Control Theory, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-10, Regulatory and legislative environment, Level 4, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-11, Theories, and principles of railway occurrence investigations, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-12, Theories, and principles of railway operations, infrastructure and systems inspections, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-13, Theories, and principles of auditing railway safety management systems, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-KM-14, Stations, Level 5, 5 Credits.

325705002-KM-15, Rail security, Level 5, 10 Credits.
Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 135.

Practical Skill Modules:

325705002-PM-01, Plan and prepare for railway inspections, audits and investigations, Level 4, 10 Credits.

325705002-PM-02, Conduct inspections of railway operations, Level 6, 15 Credits.

325705002-PM-03, Write and compile railway safety audit and inspection reports and make recommendations, Level 5, 20 Credits.

325705002-PM-04, Conduct follow-up and monitoring visits after inspections, audits, and investigations of railway operations, Level 5, 10 Credits.

325705002-PM-05, Conduct audits of railway safety management systems, Level 5, 15 Credits.

325705002-PM-06, Assess Safety Permit applications, Level 6, 10 Credits.

325705002-PM-07, Investigate railway occurrences, Level 6, 15 Credits.

325705002-PM-08, Write and compile occurrence report and make recommendations, Level 5, 10 Credits.
Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 105.

This qualification also requires the following Work Experience Modules:

325705002-WM-01, Processes, and procedures for conducting railway safety inspections of railway operations, Level 6, 30 Credits.

325705002-WM-02, Processes, and procedures for conducting railway safety management system audits, Level 6, 30 Credits.

325705002-WM-03, Processes, and procedures for investigating railway occurrences, Level 6, 30 Credits.
Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 90.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Inspect railway operations in accordance with prescribed procedures, standards, and legislation.
2. Audit railway safety management systems in accordance with prescribed procedures and standards.
3. Investigate railway occurrences in accordance with prescribed procedures, standards, and legislation.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Inspections of railway operations are planned and prepared for through the utilisation of the relevant inspection tools, PPE, reviews of all previous reports and relevant documents and scheduled and conducted meetings with all the various parties.

Inspections are conducted on railway operations following all protocols and standard operating procedures including the collection of evidence to verify compliance; conducted observations, interviews and site visits; assessments of environment and evidence; and the issuing of directives where required.

Railway safety inspection reports and recommendations are written and compiled in accordance with legal requirements and standards including assessment and analyses of all gathered evidence, determination of any outstanding information required and communication of the report findings and requests for corrective action plans.

Railway safety management system audits are planned and prepared for by seeking authorisation, scheduling and arranging all meetings and logistics, procuring required audit tools and equipment, PPE and previously available reports and relevant documentations for review.

Audits of railway safety management systems are conducted on all components of the system including Safety policy structure and procedure; Operational risk management processes; Occurrence management; Occurrence investigations; Corrective action plans; Security management; Human factors; Procurement of goods and services; Safety standards for engineering and operations systems; Interface and intraface management in accordance with prescribed standards and legislation.

The safety management systems audit follows protocols and standard operating procedures including conducting relevant meetings, collecting evidence to verify compliance with standards, interviews, observations, site visits, assessment of surrounding environment and evidence and issuing of directives where required.

Railway safety management systems audit reports and recommendations are written and compiled in accordance with legal requirements and standards including assessment and analysis of all gathered evidence, determination of any outstanding information required and communication of the report findings and requests for corrective action plans, issuing of directives where required.

Follow-up and monitoring visits are conducted in order to agree on the corrective action plan, complete verification activities on any corrective actions implemented in accordance with agreed plan and timeframes, and sign off railway safety management audit report and close off directives.

An Operator's application for a Safety Permit is assessed to determine completeness, validity of the application, identification, and communication of deficiencies and production of a report reflecting adequacy of application and recommendations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Railway occurrence investigations are planned and prepared for by making all arrangements, scheduling and conducting meetings with all the various parties; utilisation of the relevant PPE and inspection tools and equipment; reviews of all previous occurrence reports and relevant documentations.

Railway occurrences are investigated following all protocols and standard operating procedures including reporting to Rail Incident Commander (RIC) for briefing on occurrence, determining hazards that exist on site, assessments of occurrence and surrounding area; the collection and assessment of evidence through reconstruction to investigate occurrence; determination of immediate cause, root cause and contributing cause; issuing of directives where required and the determination of readiness for operations and authorisation of site clearing.

Occurrence reports and recommendations are written and compiled in accordance with legal requirements and standards including assessment and analysis of all evidence gathered on site, determination of any outstanding information required and issuing of directives where required; communication of the report findings and requests for corrective action plans and participation in Board of Inquiry activities.

Follow-up and monitoring visits are conducted in order to agree on corrective action plan, complete verification activities on any corrective actions implemented in accordance with agreed plan and timeframes, and sign off occurrence reports and close off directives.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated Formative Assessment:
The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment:
An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Germany and Great Britain were the two countries used to complete an international comparability exercise as they are seen as best practice countries with minimum railway safety challenges.

Germany:
Programme: Deutsche Bahn Integrated Learning and Qualification Services Provider.
Training ideology.
A modern qualification system should be based on international safety standards with the following international directives:

Safety Management Systems Compulsory.

Safety Certificates required for Railway Operators.

Safety authorisation required for Infrastructure Managers.

Common Safety Targets, Methods, and Indicators.

Responsibilities between involved functions defined.

Independent investigation bodies.

A holistic understanding of improving performance and safety:

Theoretical training.

Simulator training.

Practical training.

Personnel certification

Deutsche Bahn Education and Training System Development:

Modern system of vocational education.

Educating employees according to established business standards.

Constituting an integrated system of modern occupations and modern occupations and modern educational and occupational careers with DB.

DB's educational system is an integral part of the national educational system.

Increased reciprocal permeability of DB's and the national occupational and educational system.

Facilitated attainment and recruitment of skilled personnel for DB.

Modern management strategies and tools.

Explicit managerial responsibility.

Full cost accounting.

Quality management, certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001, EN 45013.

Great Britain:
Programme: Her Majesty Railway Inspectorate.
Training ideology.

Vision: Zero.

Industry caused fatalities and ever-decreasing health and safety risk.

Excellence:

In asset management and operations.

In health and safety management and culture.

Results:

Better management capability;

Reduction in risks.

Reduction in harm.

Reduced likelihood of a catastrophic incident.

Railway Inspectorate:
Her Majesty Railway Inspectorate has been in existence for 175 years.
Keeping Britain's railways safe.

Inspectors keep railways safe by:

Spending most of their time out on the rail network.

Improving health and safety practices by informing the development of new laws.

Identifying and monitoring trends in health and safety performance.

Checking and approving safety systems and licence train drivers.

Taking a proactive approach to managing health and safety.

Treating worker health on par with safety.

Delivering a sustained maintenance programme.

Using opportunities at design stage to lower risks.

Sharing innovation and best practice.

Improving risk management maturity.

How we ensure safer railways:
Inspectors are trained to:

Investigate accidents, incidents, and complaints.

Proactively help rail companies identify and manage health and safety risks.

Use models to assess an organisations ability to control health and safety risks and define best practice.

Inspection focus key themes:
Inspector training covers the following:

Level crossings.

Passenger safety.

Rail workers.

Infrastructure.

Enforcement:
Enforcement is a firm and fair process, and inspectors are trained to:

Provide verbal and written advice to improve practices.

Issue clear improvement notices with deadlines for change.

Revoke safety certificates.

Issue prohibition notices to stop work immediately until safety issues are addressed.

Conclusion:
This qualification is comparable to what is found in the chosen international best practice countries, in terms of what the qualification covers and the level of skills, knowledge, and experience that the qualifying learner would have to acquire.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Horizontal Articulation:

National Diploma in Safety Management, Level 6.

Vertical Articulation:

Advanced Diploma in Safety Management, Level 7.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

Qualifying for external assessment:
In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience records.

Foundational Learning competence is not a prerequisite for access to the external integrated summative assessment.

Additional legal or physical entry requirements:
None

Criteria for the accreditation of providers
Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) website.

The curriculum title and code is Railway Safety Inspector: 325705002.

This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:
This is not a trade qualification.

Part Qualifications
None.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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