RISSB Connect Edition 44, December 2023

Edition 44 December 2023

INSIDE THIS EDITION

+ CEO message
+ Last week's Rail Human Factors Forum
+ An update on Code of Practice - Driver Only Operation 
+ An update on Code of Practice - Rail Transport of Dangerous Goods
+ Conclusion of  AS7470 Human Factors Integration Engineering Design review
+ People Spotlight for RISSB's 20th Anniversary

CEO MESSAGE

Around this time each year, RISSB goes out to its members and industry more broadly, to seek ideas for the following year’s Work Plan. 

Our new 2024-2030 Strategic Plan, which was approved at last week's Annual General Meeting, is taking a different approach. RISSB will spend time undertaking an analysis of industry’s needs, based on key risks informed by the Australasian Rail Risk Model (ARRM). We will be informed by engagement with industry leaders, by ONRSR’s national priorities, and by major incident investigations. 

With this new approach, we will come back to industry and provide our view of the priorities and the focus for next year’s Work Plan. We will then invite any further ideas that members and industry would like to submit.

This approach is far less passive, and is promoting RISSB to take a leadership approach in terms of informing industry’s priorities.  Don't feel like you're going to miss out on submitting ideas for RISSB’s Work Plan, there will certainly be a call for submissions in the new year.

Damien White
RISSB CEO

TRAINING AND EVENTS

Last week's Rail Human Factors Forum

Last Tuesday, RISSB hosted the first Rail Human Factors Forum. This free event was created to share information, with an emphasis on learning about the application of human factors tools and methods by those directly utilising them.

We heard from human factors experts from around the rail industry, as they shared their experiences in applied human factors across a number of different topic areas, from design and innovation through to fatigue risk management. There was also a dedicated panel that discussed the benefits and application of human factors to the investigation of rail incidents.

Thank you to those who attended the forum, we hope that you enjoyed learning about the application of human factors tools and engaging in important discussions about the importance of human factors to our industry. 

A big thank you to the members of the Rail Industry Human Factors Managers Group for their support in delivering the forum.

PRODUCTS

An update on Code of Practice - Rail Transport of Dangerous Goods

RISSB has put out a call for a development group members to prepare a Code of Practice (CoP) for the Rail Transport of Dangerous Goods .

This CoP will provide operators, consignees and consignors clear guidance on the loading, shunting, marshalling, transporting and unloading of dangerous goods.

Whilst the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail sets out minimum standards for packaging, consignment practices and emergency preparation, an opportunity exists for guidance on risk management of rail transport of dangerous goods.

This CoP aims to provide rail transport operators guidance including the;

• Managing the risk of bulk dangerous goods transfer from manufacturing facility to rail wagon
• Consolidating dangerous goods laden wagons at a rail depot into a train consist for transport
• Shunting rail wagons from rail terminal to adjacent industries for dangerous goods transfer
• Offloading containers from rail to heavy vehicle combinations at a multi-modal depot.

This is an exciting project aimed at supporting the Australian rail industry.

An update on Code of Practice - Driver Only Operation

RISSB has established a development group to prepare a Code of Practice for Driver Only Operations.

The first meeting was supported by a comprehensive cross section of the rail industry completing preliminary works to draft the scope, key heading and gain an understanding of the So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable (SFAIRP) approach.

The document development will be based on solid safety assessment foundation to identify the key vulnerabilities and mitigation required to meet SFAIRP.

Applying the safety assessment methodology, the development group will identify both positive and negative risk associated with alternative resourcing arrangements, identifying the additional tasks that can be safely completed by the driver only.

This project will provide the rail industry with a clear guidance on the approach to be taken when introducing driver only operations.

It will also identify the support required from related disciplines including rolling stock maintenance, platform management and network control.

Watch this space for further updates over the coming weeks.

Conclusion of  AS7470 Human Factors Integration Engineering Design review

The development group call for the review of AS7470 Human Factors Integration Engineering Design is now finished.  The project is supported by a diverse group of distinguished professionals.  

The development group met for the introductory meeting on Monday 27 November.

Addressing the purpose, scope and expectation, the development group has quickly moved to the next stage of the review, with plans in place to meet monthly until June 2024 to finalise the work.  

Thank you to all who have nominated, we have a great group, and we are certain they will add value to this standard and the ongoing Australian Rail Human Factors discussions.

PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT ON...
RISSB's key contributors over the last 20 years

This year, RISSB is celebrating its 20th year Anniversary! Our organisation was established in June 2003 as the 'Code Management Company', then from 2007 onwards, we were formally known as the Rail Industry Safety Standards Board (RISSB).

For the last 20 years, RISSB has been supported by, and worked with, some incredible people that have contributed greatly to our business. For the next few months, we will be recognising some of RISSB's key contributors, as they share their experiences working with RISSB.

Scott Cornish

Head of Regional, Queensland Rail

"I have had an over 40 year career covering heavy industry, transport, and logistics. I have been with Queensland Rail for the last five years and currently represent the passenger sector on the RISSB board.

Contrasting with other industry and industry bodies that I have been involved with, RISSB plays a unique role in developing appropriate standards for the industry to use and connecting across industry to drive improvement and learning.

RISSB has contributed to the improvement of safety and continuous improvement within the current operating environment. RISSB will be increasingly more relevant with the pace of change, through technology uptake and a drive for a more sustainable sector."

RISSB – Industry’s Partner in Co-Regulation