The Lookout is a fundamental safety role on the railway, essential for protecting trackside workers from approaching trains. They act as the "eyes and ears" for a work group, constantly scanning the lines for train movements and providing timely warnings to allow the team to move to a Position of Safety. While simple in concept, the role demands extreme vigilance and unwavering concentration.

What is a Lookout?

A Lookout is a trained and competent individual whose sole responsibility is to provide warning of approaching trains to a work group. They work as part of a Safe System of Work, typically under the direction of a COSS (Controller of Site Safety), and are positioned strategically to have an unobstructed view of the railway line in both directions. Their timely warning signals (e.g., horn, whistle, flag) are crucial for ensuring the safety of personnel working on or near the tracks.

Key Duties and Responsibilities of a Lookout:

The Lookout's role is entirely focused on vigilance, communication, and immediate action when a train is detected. Their duties include:

• Maintaining Constant Vigilance: Continuously scanning the railway lines in their designated area for approaching trains. This is their absolute primary focus.

• Early Detection: Being positioned and equipped to detect approaching trains as early as possible to provide maximum warning time.

• Giving Clear Warnings: Using pre-arranged audible and/or visual warning signals (e.g., horn, whistle, flag, shout) to alert the work group that a train is approaching.

• Confirming Acknowledgement: Ensuring that the work group has heard and acknowledged the warning and is moving to a Position of Safety.

• Monitoring Work Group: Ensuring all members of the work group have reached a safe place before the train arrives.

• Knowing Positions of Safety: Being fully aware of all designated Positions of Safety within their area and guiding the work group to them.

• Communicating with COSS: Reporting the status of train movements and the work group to the COSS.

• No Other Duties: A Lookout must never be assigned any other duties that could distract them from their primary function of looking out for trains.

Where a Lookout can work within TES:

The Lookout competency is widely applicable across TES's operational departments, as it is a core component of most work activities on or near the railway where a COSS is managing train protection. Lookouts are integral to:

• Permanent Way (P-Way): Providing protection for teams undertaking track maintenance, renewals, and repairs.

• Electrification (OLE / 3rd Rail): Ensuring safety for teams working near electrified lines.

• Technical Services: Supporting technicians working on signals, telecoms, or other lineside equipment.

• Possession Management: Contributing to the overall safety arrangements within large or complex possessions by providing local warnings.

• Any Operational Site: Essential for almost any task carried out on the operational railway that requires protection from train movements.