What is the minimum distance a lone worker must maintain to safety when fouling a track?

The correct answer is based on the established safety protocol for lone workers who may be near active tracks. Maintaining a distance of 15 seconds before a train reaches their location provides a necessary buffer to ensure the worker has adequate time to react and move to a safe area. This interval helps account for factors such as the speed of the train and any potential distractions or delays that might impede the worker's response.

If a worker is positioned too close to the tracks, they could be in imminent danger as trains can travel at high speeds and it may be challenging for them to move to safety in a shorter time frame. The 15-second rule is thus a critical safety measure designed to prevent accidents and ensure that lone workers are sufficiently far enough away to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation.