Prioritisation of tasks when departing a station
yard
Significant safety issue
There was no RailCorp instruction that specifically referred to
the need for train crew to prioritise tasks at safety critical
locations or at times when workload is high.
Action taken by RailCorp
RailCorp has advised that a driver's routine activities include
speaking with network control and that they question the need for
an instruction for drivers to prioritise tasks as drivers are
trained to respond to both planned and unexpected situations and
conditions and, as such, practice prioritisation.
ATSB assessment of response/action
It is acknowledged that communications of a safety critical nature
with network controllers and others involved in railway safeworking
is a routine, and very necessary, activity of a train driver. In
this instance communication with the network controller related to
obtaining a Condition Affecting the Network advice that was
directly associated with the imminent passage of the train. This
issue required the driver's immediate attention whereas
communication with the Passenger Services Supervisor was not
immediately associated with the safe passage of the train and was
not safety critical in nature. Therefore this communication was not
necessary at the time of departing Junee station yard.
The ATSB believes that safety could be improved if train crews
were provided with guidance regarding prioritisation of critical
tasks such as when departing stations, running through station
yards, approaching track gangs or level crossings and so on.
ATSB safety recommendation RO-2009-SR-034
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that RailCorp
takes action to address this safety issue.