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Advise relevant external parties of container loading requirements and check for compliance
Date issue released
Safety Issue Description

While the Freight Loading Manual was available to customers, Pacific National did not actively advise them when they had a responsibility identified by the manual. Further, they did not have a process for ensuring that customers complied with the manual’s requirements.

Issue number
RO-2018-010-SI-01
Transport Function
Rail: Passenger - regional
Issue Owner
Pacific National Pty Ltd
Mode of Transport
Rail
Issue Status Justification

The ATSB is satisfied that Pacific National has developed and implemented processes, which increase customer awareness of, and compliance with their Freight Loading Manual requirements.

Proactive action
Action number
RO-2018-010-NSA-022
Organisation
Pacific National Pty Ltd
Action date
Action Status
Closed
Action description

Safety action taken:

Pacific National have indicated that they have undertaken the following safety actions relating to this issue:

  • Established the Freight Load Irregularity Prevention Network Group with representation from all freight business units. The group has a defined charter to reduce the number of load irregularity events for all freight product types including those involving non-standard or modified containers.
  • Customer service personnel have reconfirmed with customers and loading contractors of containerised freight the requirements of the relevant Freight Loading Manual (FLM) parts. This specifically included the provisional load process (FLM 01-12), non-standard and modified containers (FLM 03-14), and associated container door security requirements.
  • Developed a third party freight loading assurance auditing program for customer sites to monitor FLM compliance and performance.
  • Developed and implemented an online course for the FLM as part of the awareness of the freight loading manual module. The course is available to customers and third party loading operators.