Non-compliance with repeat back provisions

Sydney Trains have advised of their acceptance of recommendation RO-2013-017-SR055 and advised of their intention to undertake targeted assurance activities to determine whether non adherence to safety communications protocols during the implementation of local possession authorities is a systemic issue.

The ATSB is monitoring the safety actions proposed by Sydney Trains in response to Safety Recommendation RO-2014-017-SR055 and the underlying safety issue (RO-2013- 017-SI-02). The ATSB has sought periodic updates from Sydney Trains as to their implementation of the advised action, and will continue to monitor the issue by way of safety occurrence reports and the REPCON system.

In a response to the ATSB's inquiry as to Sydney Trains' progress with their advised safety action, the ATSB have been advised that the issue (RO-2013-017-SI-02) has been entered into the internal safety action management (SAM) system for progression and monitoring. Sydney Trains also noted that 'work on track' audio files, including those relating to Local Possession Authorities are already randomly monitored.

Sydney Trains stated: The Manager Network Rules & Projects has listened to and reviewed audio recordings from 12 randomly selected LPAs in relation to the transaction between Train Controllers, Signallers and PPOs when requesting and authorising LPA’s. He determined that in all instances a read back process was followed. However, the conversations were undertaken with varying levels of quality and accuracy.

Sydney Trains’ Network Operations Division has commenced a ‘Safety Critical Communications Project’, sponsored by the Director Operations and managed by the Manager Operations Compliance and Assurance. The aim of the project is to improving safety critical communications on the Network through more extensive monitoring, review and feedback to staff regarding safety critical communications. The project will also include a review of the existing Network Standard and Network Rules and Procedures relating to safety critical communications and an improved training and coaching regime. The focus of the project will be the reading back of safety critical communication and the training of Signallers and Train Controllers to take the lead in these conversations, especially in relation to prompting and leading the read back process.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is satisfied that the action taken by Sydney Trains has adequately addressed the safety issue.

Sydney Trains stated: The recommendation was assigned to the A/GM Safety & Accreditation (Matthew Coates). In order to satisfy this recommendation targeted reviews of LPA implementation are underway with the recommendation currently on target for close out by COB 14 September 2015.