What is a requirement before a back up move can be requested or made by the crew?

Before a back-up move can be requested or made by the crew, it is essential to conduct a job safety briefing among crew members. This practice ensures that all crew members are aware of the plan, understand their roles, and can communicate any concerns about safety. It fosters a culture of safety and teamwork, allowing crew members to identify potential hazards and strategize on how to navigate them during the maneuver. This preparation is crucial in maintaining safety protocols and ensuring that everyone is operating with the same information and understanding before initiating such a critical movement.

Other factors, such as verbal confirmation with the engineer or written permission from a supervisor, may play roles in the operational process but do not encapsulate the comprehensive safety and communication practices emphasized in a job safety briefing. Additionally, a check of the train's weight, while important for overall operational safety, is not directly related to the immediate requirement of preparing for a back-up move.