Although the Director of National Parks’ safe operating procedures required shooters and spotters to wear helmets during aerial culling tasks, helmets were not provided or used on a routine basis.
The Director of National Parks (DNP) has reaffirmed its requirement for employees to wear helmets when undertaking aerial work, and DNP has procured sufficient flight helmets and ancillaries for the ongoing protection of its employees who work aboard helicopters. Overall, the ATSB is satisfied that the safety action taken has reduced the risk of this safety issue.
Issue finalisation date: 24 February 2022
In January 2021, the Director of National Parks (DNP) advised of the following safety action:
In December 2019, the DNP commenced an internal review of standards of practice relating to aerial culling activity and related PPE use to ensure best and consistent practice. As a result of this review, the DNP has reaffirmed its requirement for the use of helmets during any future culling activities (noting aerial culling remains suspended) and will develop and implement operational procedures to ensure their appropriate use prior to any recommencement of aerial culling operations.
The DNP has also commenced a process to select and acquire helmets for staff who undertake aerial culling activity in the future. In doing so, the DNP is committed to ensuring the PPE selected is operationally sound, non-obstructive and does not create further risk for crew undertaking shooting operations or anyone else who may be impacted by the work.
The procurement of flight helmets and implementation of procedures for their care and use will protect DNP staff who conduct work in helicopters, and allow DNP to conform to its own stated requirements.
On 23 February 2022, the Director of National Parks (DNP) provided evidence of its purchase of flight helmets for aerial work crew. Alongside this, the DNP provided a suite of revised policy and procedures regarding the maintenance and usage of the equipment.
The procurement of flight helmets and implementation of procedures for their care and use will protect DNP staff who conduct work in helicopters, and allow DNP to conform to its own stated requirements.
