Katy L Dean (asker) Jan 15:

Thanks so much for the reference information. Lots of useful info here.

Björn Vrooman Jan 14:

A German definition
"Funktionsausbildung für Personen, die sich selbst sichern oder in einer Gruppe
von bis zu drei Personen die Sicherung übernehmen sollen (Selbstsicherer)

In unserer Funktionsausbildung zum Selbstsicherer lernen Sie, selbständig und sicher Arbeiten im Gleisbereich durchzuführen.
Drüber hinaus qualifizieren sie sich dazu, dort bis zu drei Personen zu sichern. Hierzu erfahren Sie, welche Maßnahmen dazu nötig sind, wie Sie diese planen und durchführen."
https://spitzke-akademie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Schu...

Now, COSS:
"This course is designed to train individuals who have been nominated by their line manager/sponsor to enable them to attain the Controller of Site Safety (COSS) competence.

The COSS competence will be held by anyone who is required to set up a safe system of work on or near the line for a group (two or more people). A COSS can also carry out the duties of an IWA, provided there are no medical restrictions that would prevent this."
https://www.tectraining.co.uk/courses/coss-intitial-course


Maybe you (and your husband...) find this helpful. Apparently, this person holds both the IWA and COSS certification.

Best

Björn Vrooman Jan 14:

"The track worker had left the down cess, crossed three open lines, and stood
in the middle of an open line. The COSS qualification held by the track worker
also meant he held the individual working alone (IWA) qualification. This allowed
the track worker to carry out work alone when on or near the railway. The track
worker thought that because he was effectively working on his own, he could use
his IWA qualification to cross the railway. However, when working as an IWA,
a safe system of work must still be planned and Rule Book Handbook 7 only
permits an IWA to cross just one open line when working.
...
All workers who go on to Network Rail tracks are required to hold a personal
track safety qualification, which is subject to recertification every two years. Both
the track worker and the COSS held this qualification (which is a prerequisite
to qualifying as a COSS). Personal track safety training covers how to cross
the railway, which is from one safe place to another on the other side, without
stopping, while continually looking out for trains."
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a82c4bae5274...

[...]

Björn Vrooman Jan 14:

Just another three references... ...that might help. I assume this is about BrE?

"Ensuring the safety of people working on or near the track is carried out by people including an IWA (individual working alone) protecting him/herself and by a Lookout, COSS (controller of site safety) and Site Warden (on Network Rail) and Protection Master (on London Underground) are protecting others; these tasks are safety critical where they could significantly affect the health or safety of persons on a transport system and are covered by this Regulation"
https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/om/rsp004-rogs-cr...

"All members of the Network Rail track survey work party had PTS (Personal Track Safety) and IWA (Individual Working Alone) certificates. These certificates are issued by Network Rail to staff who undertake and pass the relevant examinations."
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=3...

[...]

philgoddard Jan 12:

So have you and your husband spent the past year translating railway safety? :-)

Katy L Dean (asker) Jan 12:

The 'authorized lone worker' option is good (or 'Individual working alone' as in one of the reference links provided).

Katy L Dean (asker) Jan 12:

Thank you, that is very helpful - I guess I should have discussed this with my husband (he was the asker of that question!)

Björn Vrooman Jan 12:

Hey there... ...just saw this, but can't write much right now. I remember, though, there is already an answer of sorts here:
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/transport-trans...

Katy L Dean (asker) Jan 12:

One of the options in the TM I am using suggests "railway personnel who are responsible for their own safety". I could shorten this to 'Responsible for own safety', but it doesn't quite cover it (especially the idea of also being responsible for up to 3 others).

Katy L Dean (asker) Jan 12:

Thank you. I'll try and think of a way round it. There isn't much space in the bullets.

philgoddard Jan 12:

It means someone who's qualified to work alone on the track, or to take responsibility for up to three other people. I can't think of any concise way to say this, and you may need to spell it out as I have.
http://www.db-training.de/dbtraining-de/Suchen-Buchen/-/-/ba...

Katy L Dean (asker) Jan 12:

It's a PPT, but this is definitely what we are referring to. I found this document to give more context. The bullet point I have to translate just says "Selbstsicherer nach Ril. 046.2527" under 'Berufseingang, 9-15 Monate'. That's all I have for context sadly. I assume it is something to do with being qualified to use safety harnesses on the track.

philgoddard Jan 12:

In that case we need the text you're translating, please.

Katy L Dean (asker) Jan 12:

It is probably weird. Fortunately, I am not translating that particular text, but I need to know what the role 'Selbstsicherer' would be in English as I have it in a different document about development pathways for signalling personnel.

philgoddard Jan 12:

The German looks weird, but I think it's a list of bullet points and the bullet points are missing.