Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator

As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on the past 12 months and acknowledge the efforts made by organisations and individuals across the country to work towards our vision of Safe Railways for Australia. ONRSR offices across Australia will be closed from Wednesday 25 December 2024 until Wednesday 1 January 2025 (inclusive), reopening on Thursday 2 January. Please note that arrangements for occurrence reporting for rail transport operators remain unchanged during this time. We extend our best wishes to all for a relaxing, joyful and safe festive season and New Year. We look forward to continuing to work with all our stakeholders in 2025. 

This week we published our final bumper issue of the ONRSR Engauge e-newsletter for 2024.  Among this month’s highlights were the release of our Australian-first Code of Practice – Train Visibility at Level Crossings, the publication of our 2024-2025 Corporate Plan (in its new format), and our latest Safety Message on the importance of risk assessment in the context of road/rail interfaces, as well as other important reminders and news.  Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gg67wBps               #railsafety #levelcrossingsafety #riskmanagement #strategicpriorities

The importance of effective fatigue management in the rail industry and sleep quality – as well as adequate sleep duration – are highlighted in the findings of a new Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation report released this week into a low-speed collision near Port Hedland in WA. https://lnkd.in/g2kiUGDn

ONRSR’s Corporate Plan 2024-2025 is now available. The plan sits alongside our Strategic Directions 2024-2027, released in July, and details our priorities and focus areas along with the initiatives we’re delivering this financial year. We will continue to refine our national approach to risk-based regulation to better target our resources to deliver the greatest safety improvement. We also have initiatives underway which will amplify our influence channels to ensure the right messages reach the right audiences to maximise our influence on safety practice. Read or download the plan from the ONRSR website: https://shorturl.at/IHfA0

ONRSR’s Corporate Plan 2024-2025 is now available. The plan sits alongside our Strategic Directions 2024-2027, released in July, and details our priorities and focus areas along with the initiatives we’re delivering this financial year. We will continue to refine our national approach to risk-based regulation to better target our resources to deliver the greatest safety improvement. We also have initiatives underway which will amplify our influence channels to ensure the right messages reach the right audiences to maximise our influence on safety practice. Read or download the plan from the ONRSR website: https://shorturl.at/IHfA0

ONRSR’s latest safety message focuses on level crossings and the need to continually assess operational risks to ensure chosen controls are effective in managing rail safety. The message highlights a specific example where ONRSR, a road manager, and a rail transport operator collaborated to identify actions which will make a complex metropolitan level crossing safer for road and rail users. Read the safety message on our website: https://lnkd.in/gzJHW4u8. #railsafety #levelcrossingsafety #riskmanagement

We have published an outcome report under OTSI’s Confidential Safety Information Reporting Scheme (CSIRS) regarding safety messaging for rail catch points.  The reporter noted that the catch points on the ‘locomotive departure road’ at Junee were often left clipped closed and unattended, inconsistent with network procedure ANPR 707, allowing trains to exit the workshops without a second person to manage the weighted ball-operated lever catch points. This practice bypassed an engineered safety system designed to prevent uncontrolled movements and was reported to have been happening for a significant period. 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬’ 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬  • The Rail Infrastructure Manager (RIM) asked the rolling stock operator (RSO) to remove the points clip.  • The RIM made unscheduled inspections and closed the locomotive departure road at Junee after finding the catch points clipped closed and unattended twice within five weeks.  • The RSO reminded all its traincrew in NSW to follow network procedure ANPR 707, including seeking authorisation for the use of the points clip.  • Prompted by a hazard report, the RSO and RIM conducted a risk assessment and implemented several risk controls, allowing the locomotive departure road to reopen. OTSI referred the matter to the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) due to serious safety implications. After discussing the issues with the RIM and RSO, ONRSR was satisfied that the operators took appropriate action. 𝐎𝐓𝐒𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬    • Operational staff should report safety concerns immediately if they think a procedure is unsafe or doesn’t work well. This allows the issue to be identified, assessed and addressed. Non-adherence or deviation to procedures and standards relevant to the task can introduce risks, with unofficial work arounds, such as bypassing engineered safety controls, having the potential to result in serious incidents. Always follow the procedure relevant to the task.   • Operators are reminded to make sure the right people with sufficient competency are involved in assessing risks including those who face the risks and those who will enact the safety measures. Poor risk assessments can lead to poor safety outcomes, and inappropriate or ineffective risk controls and result in a higher chance of incidents.   𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐒     OTSI publishes CSIRS Outcome Reports to share findings that benefit the transport industry, providing a confidential way for employees to report safety issues.  Read the full CSIRS Outcome Report and share this post with your network - https://lnkd.in/gv2g4UxB Jim Modrouvanos Kerry Russell Source: Image supplied, annotated by OTSI – the points clipped in the ‘closed’ position. In the absence of a points clip, unless the lever is manually held, the weighted ball will automatically reset the catch points to the ‘open’ position to derail a train.

ONRSR has today released an Australian first Code of Practice – Level Crossings and Train Visibility.   Australia’s Infrastructure and Transport Ministers tasked ONRSR with developing the code as part of a suite of actions that are needed by governments, industry and regulators to improve level crossing safety.   The code is the result of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including those with lived experience of rail collisions, industry representatives, unions, governments, and subject matter experts and provides the Australian rail industry with best practice guidance to support operators to strengthen the controls in place to address the safety risks posed by level crossings.   It is not a ‘silver bullet’ but a well-considered and responsibly developed safety tool backed by a significant body of independent research which will help address part of the level crossing safety challenge.   You can download a copy of the Code and view a series of related documents and resources via this link https://lnkd.in/g-bm4U-c.

ONRSR’s newest industry safety message explains our expectations as rail infrastructure managers adopt interim solutions while they upgrade to modern digital signalling systems. The advice covers what is required when managing the risks associated with a signalling solution that facilitates mixed mode operations, and in particular ‘dark signals'. The SFAIRP (So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable) principle remains key, along with an understanding that solutions must be tailored to the unique operating circumstances of particular railways. Read the message: https://lnkd.in/gpVAiT4u

We are back at #AusRAIL for Day 2. Chief Operating Officer Peter Doggett will join Australasian Railway Association (ARA) covering: Levers for change (2) How ARA & ONRSR are working to mature industry’s ability to mutually recognise competency. #railsafety #collaboration