Safety issue

Safety issue description

Sydney Trains' control of the access and egress to the project worksite did not ensure that all workers entering the worksite were identified and received an induction.
Issue number RO-2018-021-SI-01
Issue owner Sydney Trains
Transport function Rail: Passenger - metropolitan
Issue status Closed – Partially addressed
Date issue released 30/06/2020
Issue status justification

The ATSB notes the safety action taken identified and implemented additional risk controls that reduce the likelihood of the safety issue arising. The residual risk has been assessed as low as reasonably practicable at this point in time. Advances in technology associated with rail safety worker safety may reduce the residual risk further into the future.

Safety action

Action type Proactive action
Action number RO-2018-021-NSA-027
Organisation Sydney Trains
Action date 30/06/2020
Action description

On 31 March 2021, Sydney Trains advised that the following actions have been taken in response to safety issue: 

  • Risk workshop conducted in December 2020 involving key Major Works and SEQR personnel looking at methodologies that could be used to manage access to Major Works worksites that may interface with passenger platforms.
  • Outcome of workshop was the development of a risk control guideline for working near live station platforms.
  • The guideline was formalised and issued as document ‘MWD-PLES-GUI-209’.
  • Works managers were briefed on the guideline early in February 2021 and Works Management staff were briefed early in March 2021
  • A SFAIRP Risk assessment had been conducted in October 2020 through Asset Management looking at the specific condition of managing access during possessions when worksites were not established but a station was still partially open / in operation.
  • Bow-Tie for Network Hazard of ‘Unauthorised unintentional access to rail corridor via station during track possession’ was developed.
  • Following completion of the risk assessment, Asset Management issued Possession Notice 40 November 2020 on reporting members of the public or trespassers in the rail corridor during track possessions.
ATSB response

The ATSB notes the safety action taken in response to the safety issue is expected to reduce the likelihood of the safety issue arising.
Action status Closed