Summary
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is an operationally independent
body within the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
and is Australia’s prime agency for transport safety investigations. The
bureau is entirely separate from transport regulators and service providers.
The ATSB’s objective is safe transport. Its mission is to maintain and
improve transport safety and public confidence through excellence in:
- independent investigation of transport accidents and other safety occurrences;
- safety data recording, analysis and research; and
- fostering safety awareness, knowledge and action.
The ATSB performs its functions in accordance with the provisions of the Transport
Safety Investigation Act 2003 (TSI Act). Section 7 of the TSI Act indicates that
the object of the Act is to improve transport safety through, among other things,
independent investigations of transport accidents and incidents and the making
of safety action statements and recommendations that draw on the results of those
investigations. It is not the purpose of ATSB investigations to lay blame or provide
a means for determining liability.
The organisation
The ATSB was formed on 1 July 1999.
The Bureau’s Executive Director is supported by a General Manager, Safety
Research and Education and three Deputy Directors.
Staff (approximately 100) include about 60 aviation, marine and rail safety investigators.
Most are based in Canberra. Field offices are located in Brisbane, Adelaide and
Perth.
ATSB staff also include notification and confidential reporting, analysis, statistical
and research specialists, particulary in road safety and aviation safety.
The ATSB is a member of key safety bodies include: International Transportation
Safety Association (ITSA); International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI);
Flight Safety Foundation (FSF); and Marine Accident Investigators International
Forum (MAIIF).
The Australian context
Australians travel vast distances by air, sea, rail and road.
Transport activity grows as the economy grows. All sectors rely on transport to
move products and provide services.
But as transport activity increases, so does the risk of accidents and incidents.
The Australian, state, territory and local governments, industry and other stakeholders
work collaboratively on transport safety.
The ATSB and transport safety
The ATSB contributes to transport safety by independently investigating, analysing
and openly reporting on transport safety matters. All ATSB investigations are
‘no blame’ - the emphasis is on learning to improve future safety.
Bureau publications include reports on the facts and conclusions of investigations,
safety research material, and statistics such as on national road fatalities.
Reports often contain recommendations for authorities and other parties to action
in the interests of safety improvements.
The ATSB also coordinates the National Road Safety Strategy and biennial action
plans for consideration and approval by Transport Ministers.
Aviation
The ATSB is responsible for the independent investigation of accidents and incidents
involving civil aircraft in Australia. All accidents and incidents related to
flight safety in Australia or by Australian registered aircraft overseas must
be reported to the ATSB. While the ATSB does not investigate all of these, it
still needs to be notified so that the data can be recorded for possible future
safety analysis. Please call the toll-free number 1800 011 034 to notify the ATSB.
Australia is a member of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO), which is made up of 188 countries, and has frequently assisted with international
investigations, including through analysis of flight-recorder (‘black box’)
data.
Marine
Marine transport accounts for the majority of imports and exports of cargo in
and out of Australia and plays a significant role through coastal trade. Cruise
shipping is also a growth industry. Australia is a council member of the International
Maritime Organization (IMO).
Marine investigations are conducted into accidents and serious incidents involving
Australian registered ships anywhere in the world, foreign flag ships within Australian
waters, or where evidence relating to an accident involving ships is found in
Australia.
Marine accidents and serious incidents may involve loss of life or serious injury
aboard a ship, loss of a ship, fires, collisions and groundings, and serious damage
to (or caused by) ships.
The ATSB is a founding member of the MAIIF. The ATSB wrote, and has lectured
on, the IMO Model course on marine casualty and incident investigation. Accidents
and serious incidents must be reported as soon as practicable to the ATSB. Often
such a report will be made through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
(AMSA). The toll-free number to make your marine report to the ATSB is 1800
011 034.
Rail
With more national rail operators entering the market, state borders are becoming
less significant. The Defined Interstate Rail Network (DIRN) is a nationally vital
transport infrastructure, providing an important alternative to road transport
for Australia’s increasing freight task.
The Australian Government can help make significant improvements in interstate
rail safety through independent and credible investigations, and wide dissemination
of safety findings through public reporting. The TSI Act allows the ATSB to investigate
rail accidents and serious incidents that occur on the DIRN.
Accidents and serious incidents that occur on the DIRN must be reported as
soon as practicable by the quickest possible means to the relevant state or
NT rail safety regulator in accordance with established procedures. The regulator,
as a Nominated Official under the TSI Regulations, will in turn notify the ATSB.
Alternatively reports may also be made directly to the ATSB. Call the toll-free
number 1800 011 034 to notify the ATSB.
Legislative framework
ATSB transport safety investigators exercise statutory powers delegated by
the Executive Director in accordance with the provisions of the Transport
Safety Investigation Act 2003. The TSI Act allows the Executive Director
to investigate transport safety matters in the aviation, marine and rail transport
modes within the Australian Government’s constitutional jurisdiction and
to release transport safety information, including investigation reports that
detail the findings and significant factors that led to a particular transport
safety occurrence.
A comprehensive regime of provisions within the TSI Act is in place to maintain
the confidentiality of, and legal protection for, a range of sensitive safety
information obtained by ATSB investigators.
Further information
Further information about the ATSB is available online at www.atsb.gov.au
There you will find investigation and other reports, research and safety data,
including the bureau’s road and rail databases. A free email subscription
service will alert you to new material.
Download Complete Document: About_the_ATSB [ PDF: 323Kb]
Type: Corporate Brochure
Publication Date: 06/06/08
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