PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

MasterClass Webinars Set To Return in 2021

RISSB's popular MasterClass webinars will return in 2021 with a fortnightly program starting in February.

In the first two months alone, expect to see a state minister, the CEO of a technology company, and more industry leaders and technical experts.

More information will be released in The Whistle Board in coming weeks.

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

Human Factors Management Group To Meet

The first meeting of the Human Factors Managers Group will be held virtually on Tuesday, 16th of February. The meeting will include continued discussions on key HF issues, feedback on RISSB’s OCHWaS (safety culture survey released in October 2020) and a presentation from Huw Gibson, Head of Human Factors, from RSSB, UK.

RISSB Membership Grows To 85

This month our membership has grown to 85 for the first time ever.

Thank you to everyone who has joined RISSB recently, particularly the six new members that have been accepted within the first few weeks of January.

* Mott MacDonald Australia Pty Ltd 
* Suburban Rail Loop Authority 
* Summit Consulting  
* Tehnika Pty Ltd 
* Derwent Valley Railway 
* ADA Engineering Pty Ltd

PUBLICATIONS

RISSB  Moves Ahead With Track Worker Safety

RISSB continues to make great progress on this important industry issue, progressing work on multiple fronts:

* We’re now into the final stages of the project to explore track worker safety technologies – a collaborative effort between RISSB, ONRSR and ACRI. Thank you to all the industry people who have contributed time and expertise.

* We’ve published the Guideline – Good practice in mitigating safety risks when planning works in the rail corridor.

* We’ve kicked off the Guideline – Achieving a positive safety culture in the rail corridor, and

* We’re in the final stages of updating our Safety Critical Communications course including putting it online as well as producing a more focused communications course targeted at frontline staff.

We’re very grateful for all the experts from around the industry who are rallying in support of RISSB’s efforts in these areas as we all push hard to make improvements.

We’ll keep you informed as other initiatives come online.

National Rail Action Plan

The National Rail Action Plan has begun 2021 apace with the first Steering Committee (on standardisation) meeting on the 15th of January. The next one (interoperability) will be held on the 29th of January.

These efforts are working toward a 3-year harmonisation plan to present at the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (ITMM) mid-year, seeking to drive significant benefits in our industry and its supply chains.

Current Public Consultations

AS 7659 Point locking, point drives and point detection

Current Call For Development Group Members

Practical Uses of the Australian Rail Risk Model (ARRM) Guideline

Network Rule Books Code of Practice

AS 1085.17 : Railway Track Material - Steel Sleepers Development Group Update

The Development Group met for the first time earlier this month to consider the areas that required review. The relevant updates will be considered in a draft document, which will be reviewed in the coming weeks. 

The reviewed Standard is expected to be published mid-2021.