ATSB Annual Plan

Who we are

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB is established as an independent agency by the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (TSI Act). It is funded by the Australian Government to deliver improved transport safety in Australia, including through:

• independent 'no blame' investigation of transport accidents and other safety occurrences
• safety data recording, analysis and research
• fostering safety awareness, knowledge and action.

What we do

The ATSB's primary function is to improve transport safety by investigating safety occurrences and communicating what we learn. To achieve this, we:

focus our resources where they are most likely to result in safety improvements
harness the expertise and information necessary to our safety role
conduct impartial, systemic and timely safety investigations
identify safety issues based on evidence and expert analysis
report safety issues clearly and objectively, without attributing blame or liability
ensure the significance of safety issues is clearly understood by all concerned
promote effective safety action.

How we do it

The ATSB works actively with the aviation, marine and rail industries, transport regulators and governments at a state, national and international level to improve transport safety. Through rigorous investigation, supported by focussed research and analysis and clear communication, we identify safety issues and advocate action to improve future safety.

From 18 December 2012, the ATSB will enhance its role in rail safety investigation outside the Defined Interstate Rail Network (DIRN), to include metropolitan passenger and freight networks. To achieve this, the ATSB is negotiating Collaboration Agreements with existing investigator agencies in NSW and Victoria and arrangements with other states to fund the expected increase in the number of investigations.

Why we do it

Independent 'no blame' investigation of transport accidents and
other safety occurrences
Independent investigations that focus on systemic issues, and on future safety rather than on blame, ensure that stakeholders are aware of safety issues and what needs to be done to address them. Rigorous investigation reports and consequent safety actions foster soundly based public confidence in the safety of the transport system.

Safety data recording, analysis and research
Timely receipt and assessment of transport accident and other safety occurrence notifications allows the ATSB to identify possible safety issues at the earliest opportunity. The maintenance and analysis of a body of safety information (including transport safety data, and research and investigation reports) enables better understanding of safety trends and safety issues.

The ATSB is negotiating with the national rail safety regulator to receive notifications and develop a shared database of rail incidents.

Fostering safety awareness, knowledge and action
Awareness and understanding of transport safety issues is increased through a range of activities including consultation, education, and the promulgation of research and investigation findings and recommendations. These contribute to the national and international body of safety knowledge and foster action for the improvement of safety systems and operations.

Our principles

We approach our work in accordance with five key principles intended to maintain trust in our organisation:
Independence: we think for ourselves
Engagement: we work with others
Rigour: we rely on evidence
Innovation: we are open to new ideas
Relevance: we make a difference

Our priorities for 2012-13

Consistent with our Statement of Intent, the ATSB has identified the following priorities for 2012-13.

Safety communication and education
We will plan and allocate resources to meet the ATSB's commitment to enhancing safety communication and education.

We will ensure that the safety messages resulting from investigations are clearly stated and communicated well, thereby maintaining industry awareness and public confidence.

Active participation in the transport reform agenda
We will work to meet the Council of Australian Governments' commitment to establish the ATSB as the national investigator of rail accidents and other safety occurrences.

We will collaborate on marine safety investigation arrangements to complement an expanded role for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in the safety of commercial shipping.

We will implement the government's commitments regarding safety investigation as outlined in the National Aviation Policy White Paper - Flight Path to the Future.

Improved efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness of investigations
We will continue to ensure our resources deliver the best safety benefits and outcomes to the travelling public.

We will continually improve our investigation policies and practices to maintain our status as a best practice safety investigation agency.

We will monitor our efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness through benchmarking with like agencies.

By December 2011, we will establish and implement updated investigation management policies and procedures and supporting tools.

Strengthening stakeholder relationships
By December 2011, we will revise our MoUs with the Department of Defence and AMSA.

We will strengthen our relationship with industry participants and the travelling public through safety communication and education, and through objective and transparent investigations that include appropriate levels of consultation.

We will develop and agree a MoU with the national rail safety regulator for use from 2013 onwards.

Sharing safety information
We will cooperate with other state, national and international safety agencies to share safety data and other safety intelligence to allow all parties to better perform their important safety functions.

In responding to the Declaration of Open Government, we will promote public access to transport safety accident and incident occurrence data and statistical holdings.

We will implement the ATSB Information Publication Plan, consistent with the government's FOI reforms.

Focussed safety research and data analysis
We will develop a proactive safety occurrence trend monitoring capability, including developing occurrence risk ratings to allow indications of safety risk from occurrence data.

We will publish and undertake a research program informed by: analysis of safety data holdings and investigation findings; and consultation with relevant stakeholders, including other safety agencies, educational institutions and transport industry participants.

We will work to improve consistency and comparability of transport safety datasets, including those that focus on the collection, collation and analysis of data.

We will contribute to the creation of national safety occurrence datasets in rail and marine to ensure that the ATSB will have ready access to the data, and that the databases will be conducive to proactive data analysis for measuring safety within these industries.

Regional and international engagement
We will be an active and constructive player in International Civil Aviation Organization, International Maritime Organization, and other international and regional forums that have a role in transport safety

We will promote engagement with our international counterpart agencies and with relevant multilateral organisations, ensuring that safety lessons and operational innovations are shared internationally. We will collaborate on improving the international standards for transport accident investigation

We will actively support initiatives to build aviation and maritime safety investigation capability in the Asia-Pacific region

We will assist Australia's regional neighbours through international agreements and participation in intergovernmental programs such as the Indonesian Transport Safety Assistance Package (ITSAP) and cooperation with Papua New Guinea (PNG) in line with the Australia-PNG MoU on Cooperation in the Transport Sector.

Building capability
We will recruit and train the staff necessary to carry out our expanded role in the rail sector.

We will implement revised investigator work level standards, including to support the national safety investigator reforms

Where resources permit, the ATSB will provide technical advice, training and support to other organisations with a role in transport safety.

We will ensure we are able to respond to the challenges posed by new transport vehicles and technologies.

We will ensure that the characteristics of a good safety management system are understood by our investigators, and that our investigation findings are a valuable means of measuring and assuring the effectiveness of safety management systems.

Preparedness for a major accident
We will plan and exercise to effectively respond to a major accident within Australia or involving an Australian air carrier or ship overseas. As well as contingency planning, we will participate in regular exercises to test and improve preparedness. We will participate in emergency response and post investigation debriefs.

Deliverables and key performance indicators

Deliverable: We will assess, classify and publish summaries of accident and incident occurrences that we receive.

Target: Details of occurrences being investigated are published within one business day.
Summaries of other occurrences are published within five working days of receipt.

Deliverable: We will assess confidential reports for clarity, completeness and significance for transport safety and, where appropriate, advise any responsible party in a position to take safety action in response to the safety concern.

Target: A de-identified summary of the confidential report will be provided to any relevant third party within five working days.
Within two months, advise a responsible party in a position to take safety action in response to the safety concern.

Deliverable: We will complete and publish safety investigations.

Target: More complex Investigations: up to 60 per annum (p.a.).
Short investigations: up to 120 p.a.

Deliverable: We will complete and publish research and analysis reports based on safety priorities and trends.

Target: Up to 14 reports published as part of an annual research program.
Reports on aviation safety trends provided to the Minister and safety agencies quarterly.

Deliverable: We will ensure we are prepared for a major accident by reviewing and testing our major accident response and management capabilities.

Target: Participation in one major exercise per annum.

Deliverable: We will assist regional transport safety through participation in the Indonesian Transport Safety Assistance Package (ITSAP) and cooperation with Papua New Guinea consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Transport Sector.

Target: Delivery of approved projects within Program funding allocation.

Deliverable: We will publish and deliver an annual program of safety communication and awareness.

Target: Implementation of published program.

Deliverable: We will implement the ATSB's expanded national role in rail transport safety, as part of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Rail Regulation and Investigation Reform, agreed in August 2011.

Target: By 1 January 2013, establish collaboration agreements with NSW and Victoria to provide investigation services under the TSI Act.
By 1 January 2013, establish charging arrangements with other states and territories for the ATSB to expand rail safety investigations.

Key performance indicators

Key performance indicator: Safety action is taken by stakeholders to address identified critical safety issues.

Target: Critical Safety Issues: 100%
Significant safety issues: 70%

Key performance indicator: Stakeholder awareness of safety issues is raised as a result of investigation, research and analysis findings and through safety education activities (as measured through a biennial survey.

Target: A rating of five or higher scored on a 7-point rating scale.
More complex investigations published within 12 months.

Key performance indicator: Investigation reports are published in a timely manner.

Target: Short investigations published within two months.