The operator’s safety management reporting system did not enable the effective prioritisation of submitted safety reports.
The ATSB is satisfied that the amendments to the new safety reporting system will increase the likelihood that immediately and routine reportable matters will be notified to the ATSB within the required timeframe.
The operator advised that it implemented an update to the new safety reporting system to allow for the ATSB indication dial to be cleared independently of the departmental validation of the report. The system now clearly highlights reports that have been submitted late with the ATSB indication dial showing in isolation.
The operator further added that, in addition to this change, the software provider has been requested to include a statistical tool that monitors the time from initial receipt of the report to the time the report is processed for ATSB reporting. This will allow for future monitoring of the updated system to ensure on-going compliance to Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.
The operator has addressed the key concern of this safety issue, in particular the clear identification of unreported occurrences within the operator’s safety reporting system. The system modification adequately addresses a significant display issue in identifying outstanding reportable matters. This has increased visibility of the SMS system in processing late and outstanding reports in the system to safety systems staff and allows the operator to run statistical reports to monitor ongoing reporting compliance.
