The reporter has raised concerns in relation to [Operator's] emergency response procedures.
The reporter states a motor vehicle accident occurred while conducting approved works within a rail corridor at [Location] on [date]. The emergency procedures below were not immediately enacted following a call to their supervisor:
- No call was made to Network control to block out the section of track where the accident occurred.
- Emergency services were not notified.
The reporter asks the following questions:
1. Does [Operator] have scheduled refresher training of emergency response procedures for direct supervisory staff when conducting approved works within the rail corridor?
2. If so, does this training extend to contractor staff in the form of induction/scheduled renewals?
3. Do [Operator] staff provide contract staff with briefings that include emergency response procedures prior to each occasion of works commencing within the rail corridor?
The motor vehicle incident referenced involved a vehicle that became trapped in a bog hole on an access road in the rail corridor with two wheels subsequently lifted off the ground. This incident was immediately responded to by the site supervisor who determined that an emergency response, including immediate reporting to Network Control, was not required as no injuries had occurred, no emergency services were required, the involved vehicle was not located in the danger zone and there was no potential impact to rail operations. The incident was reported to Network Control as required, following the coordination of the initial incident response.
[Operator] does not have scheduled refresher training of emergency response procedures for direct supervisory staff, including contractors. Awareness of emergency response procedures is managed locally.
Prior to work commencing in the rail corridor all workers attending the site must receive and participate in a pre-work brief. This briefing includes confirmation and communication of emergency response requirements including:
- the Network Controller’s emergency contact number
- the nominated first aider’s name and location of the first aid kit
- the emergency assembly point, as well as type of emergency warning alarm that is in place, and
- the emergency services access point.
ONRSR has reviewed the reporter’s concerns and operator’s response.
Noting an incident or concern may be reported internally to an operator in accordance with their safety management system, rail transport operators have mandatory obligations in relation to their operations which includes notifiable occurrences. Details of the specific occurrences that must be reported are specified under Regulation 57 and Regulation 28 of the Rail Safety National Law National Regulations. Further information regarding notifiable occurrence and reporting requirements is available to the public in the document ONRSR Guideline Notifiable Occurrence Reporting Requirements available on the ONRSR website. This document sets out the requirements for the reporting of notifiable occurrences, as required by s121 of the Rail Safety National Law (RSNL).
The operator’s emergency management plans form part of the operator’s safety management system. As part of ONRSR’s national work program, ONRSR may choose to conduct regulatory activities on the operator’s emergency management plans to ensure compliance with the requirements of RSNL and regulations.
The ATSB notes that the reporter remains concerned about the operator's response time to the incident.