Load restraint system

Safety issue

Safety issue description	Pacific National did not demonstrate that the load restraint system provided by demountable cradles carrying jumbo coils was safe and fit for purpose.
Issue number	RO-2018-008-SI-03
Issue owner	Pacific National Pty Ltd
Transport function	Rail: Freight
Issue status	Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released	10/12/2020
Issue status justification	Pacific National have indicated that they believe, based on calculations and measured data, that their jumbo coil carrying demountable cradles provide, at minimum, restraint capable of resisting about 0.75 g acceleration. This was greater than the actual accelerations measured by instrumentation during operation, at about 0.3 g typical (0.372 g maximum peak). Therefore, Pacific National stated that the level of load restraint offered by current demountable cradles demonstrates that they sufficiently restrain jumbo coils against lateral accelerations and prevent coils from moving and falling during transit. The ATSB acknowledges that Pacific National have provided a demonstration that the demountable cradle design is safe and fit for purpose.

Safety action

Action type	Safety recommendation
Action number	RO-2018-008-SR-042
Organisation	Pacific National Pty Ltd
Action date	10/12/2020
Action description	The ATSB recommends that Pacific National review the load restraint system provided by the demountable cradle design to demonstrate that they sufficiently restrain jumbo coils against lateral accelerations and prevent coils from moving and falling during transit.
ATSB response	Pacific National have indicated that they believe, based on calculations and measured data, that their jumbo coil carrying demountable cradles provide, at minimum, restraint capable of resisting about 0.75 g acceleration. This was greater than the actual accelerations measured by instrumentation during operation, at about 0.3 g typical (0.372 g maximum peak). Therefore, Pacific National stated that the level of load restraint offered by current demountable cradles demonstrates that they sufficiently restrain jumbo coils against lateral accelerations and prevent coils from moving and falling during transit. The ATSB acknowledges that Pacific National have provided a demonstration that the demountable cradle design is safe and fit for purpose.
Action status	Closed

Organisation response

Date received	10/03/2021
Organisation	Pacific National
Response status	Closed
Response text	Pacific National: initial response Pacific National provided a response to the safety recomendation, which included an offer of a meeting between Pacific National representatives and the ATSB. The ATSB accepted this offer and the meeting occured on 25 March 2021 with a commitment to provide follow-up action.

Organisation response

Date received	30/03/2021
Organisation	Pacific National
Response status	Closed
Response text	Pacific National: meeting outcome Following on from our teleconference on Monday, we would like to offer the following: Safety Recommendation (RO-2018-008-SR-042). Pacific National are committed to providing the following with regards to Coil Restraint by the agreed timeframe of the 26 April 2021: PN will show by calculation what accelerations the various cradles and coil combinations can withstand. This will include different values for different cradle/coil interface angles. PN will provide a statement explaining how the test data collected to date provides sufficient evidence to adopt as the limiting accelerations for the transport of coil rather than the accelerations provided by RISSB. PN will provide a statement comparing the test data and the calculated acceleration limits for the coil/cradle combinations confirming that the loads are sufficiently restrained and safe to operate. PN will provide details of the specification for the rubber matting and this will be included in the FLM.

Organisation response

Date received	05/05/2021
Organisation	Pacific National
Response status	Closed
Response text	Pacific National briefing: Demonstration of load restraint Pacific National engineers briefed the ATSB on the results of further work. The briefing addressed the four items indicated in correspondence dated 30 March 2021. Pacific National have indicated that they believe, based on calculations and measured data, that their jumbo coil carrying demountable cradles provide, at minimum, restraint capable of resisting about 0.75 g acceleration. This was greater than the actual accelerations measured by instrumentation during operation, at about 0.3 g typical (0.372 g maximum peak). Therefore, Pacific National stated that the level of load restraint offered by current demountable cradles demonstrates that they sufficiently restrain jumbo coils against lateral accelerations and prevent coils from moving and falling during transit.

Safety action

Action type	Proactive action
Action number	RO-2018-008-NSA-041
Organisation	Pacific National Pty Ltd
Action date	10/12/2020
Action description	Response from Pacific National On 18 September 2020, Pacific National advised that they have adopted additional containment strategies and continue to look for opportunities to mitigate the risk of a load shift event, for the transporting of steel jumbo coils. Tasks undertaken include: review of the current jumbo coil cradle design design of a physical barrier to prevent coils leaving the cradle in the event of a strapping failure and telescoping event implementation of a provisional load form that requires all jumbo coils with a width to outer diameter ratio of greater than 2.39 to be carried in modified fixed cradles that have the physical barrier fitted a reduction in the permissible telescoping limits for rail transport to less than 75 mm for all coils.
ATSB response	The ATSB acknowledges the proactive safety action taken by Pacific National. However, it is noted that the focus is on the containment (mitigating the consequence of movement) of jumbo coils rather than restraint (preventing movement from occurring). Pacific National should consider the requirements for the restraint or containment systems and how they are met by the demountable cradle design. The ATSB is issuing the following recommendation.
Action status	Closed