Gang warning signals

Staff training

All staff who work in the danger area on the tracks must be familiar with the significance of the gang warning signals. These vary from country to country. Supervisors provide their staff with the knowledge about the gang warning signals and the action to be taken when they are in danger. These rules must be strictly observed.

Physical principles

The audibility of the gang warning signals is subject to outside influences, including the following:

 Noise at the workplace (e.g. from the use of the equipment):

  • ambient noise (cars, aircraft, construction sites).
  • noise of passing trains.
  • sound reflection or insulation (when working in the area of noise protection walls).
  • wind (strength and direction).
  • weather (snow and fog).

 

The audibility of the signals depends on the following: 

  • type of signal (volume and frequency).
  • directional radiation pattern of the signal.
  • hearing of the individual workers (e.g. whether their ears are covered in cold weather or they use inappropriate hearing protection products).

 

Examples of gang warning signals

Ro 1 signal

Take care. Vehicles approaching on the adjacent track.

[Translate to English:] von Matthias Müller

© Matthias Müller

A long beep with the horn as a mixed sound made up of two different high notes. 

 

Ro 2 signal

Clear tracks on which work is being done. 

 

[Translate to English:] von Matthias Müller

© Matthias Müller

Two long beeps with the horn in succession at different pitches.  

 

Ro 3 signal

Clear tracks on which work is being done as fast as possible.  

 

[Translate to English:] von Matthias Müller

© Matthias Müller

Two quick beeps at least five times one after another in different pitches.

 

If it is not clear on which side the staff must leave the track the lookout man must indicate this side by flag signals (Ro 4 signal).

 

Ro 4 signal

Indication of the track side to which staff must go, after sounding the gang warning signals Ro 2 and Ro 3.  

 

[Translate to English:] von Matthias Müller

© Matthias Müller

A white flag with black border.
The signal is installed in the vicinity of the working gang parallel to the track.