Before communicating verbal protection, what must the dispatcher ensure?

The dispatcher must ensure that authority has been withheld from all trains before communicating verbal protection. This is crucial because verbal protection involves providing specific safety measures to protect workers on the tracks. If authority has not been withheld, trains may still be moving through the area where work is taking place, which poses significant safety risks to both the crew on the ground and the train operators. Ensuring that no authority exists means that the dispatcher is taking steps to make certain that the trains cannot enter or are actively halted from entering the area where protection is being established. This is fundamental to maintaining a safe work environment.

In contrast, while notifying all trains, checking weather conditions, and ensuring all staff are accounted for are important aspects of train dispatching, they do not directly address the immediate need for safety surrounding verbal protection. The priority is preventing any potential conflicts or accidents in the work zone rather than just informing or accounting for personnel and operational conditions.