LTSA rail newsletter

Issue One, May 2003

Welcome to the first newsletter from the Rail Safety Section of the Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) to the rail industry. This newsletter will be published periodically and distributed to every rail operator in the country, and to other interested parties. We intend for the newsletter to update, and summarise for you, relevant issues affecting the industry, upcoming industry events, and advise you what the LTSA Rail Safety Section is currently focusing on.

In this issue:

Railways Bill update
LTSA rationale for safe heritage shunting practices
LTSA staff member profile (Graeme Hudson)
What LTSA is looking for in the rail safety audit process
A message from the General Manager, Policy, LTSA

1. Railways Bill update

As you will be aware a significant piece of legislation affecting our industry is being developed. The Railways Bill (or Act, once it becomes law) will bring together the Railway Safety and Corridor Management Act 1992, and relevant parts of the Transport Services Licensing Act 1989 and the Land Transport Act 1998.

Currently the bill is in the final stages of being developed and is due to be introduced to Parliament in mid-May. Further updates and how the new Act may affect your operation will be covered in future editions of this newsletter.

2. Heritage shunting practices

You may be aware that the LTSA is requiring all operators to maintain high levels of safety during shunting activities. Recently, the focus has been on the shunting practices of heritage rail operators. Our role is to regulate the safety aspects of each operation and ensure that all operators carry out their activities, including shunting, in a safe manner. We simply want to ensure that all operators have safe shunting practices and that no one is put at unnecessary risk while shunting is being carried out.

Shunting, by its very nature, is a dangerous activity. We require that at no time should a Shunter ride on the leading edge (or cowcatcher) of a locomotive or wagon consist. The Shunter should walk alongside the locomotive in line with or slightly ahead of the leading edge of the locomotive. This position gives a similar view to riding on the leading edge but is significantly safer and allows the use of both hands to signal the driver.

A fall while riding on the leading edge of a locomotive will very likely lead to serious injury or a fatality. The LTSA wants to prevent these types of accidents occurring. We encourage not only heritage operators but also all operators to adopt safer shunting practices. It is far better for all concerned if we work together to prevent shunting accidents rather than having to investigate fatal shunting accidents because people took unnecessary risks riding on the leading edge of a locomotive while shunting.

3. LTSA staff member profile

In this issue we profile Graeme Hudson, the Senior Rail Safety Advisor, Operations.

Graeme has been in this role in LTSA for eight months, and has 27 years experience working in the rail industry including working for New Zealand Government Railways, New Zealand Rail Limited and Tranz Rail Ltd. His roles have included Locomotive Trainee, Locomotive Engineer, Manager Training and Operating Practices, and Training Consultant.

Graeme works in the LTSA Wellington office, and also gets out in the field to interact with industry members.

When in the office Graeme is responsible for reviewing Safety Audits and Rail Services Licences, approving variations to rail safety systems, and any other safety issues that arise.

In addition Graeme regularly visits rail operators. Through these visits the LTSA gains a greater appreciation of the wide range of rail operations around the country. Included in his visits are major network operator sites, industrial rail sidings, heritage operators and tourist operations.

4. The audit process

We would like to take this opportunity to remind operators of the LTSA requirements for the audit process. Audits are carried out to confirm that each operator is in compliance with their approved safety system and that safety related issues are being identified and acted upon in an acceptable way. Auditors are appointed by each operator and approved to carry out the audit by LTSA. There are minimum audit requirements as set out in the LTSA's 10-point plan. (This plan can be found in the Rail safety licensing and audit guidelines (PDF, 974 KB).) This plan ensures that all relevant aspects of the rail operation are covered.

You must provide the LTSA with the audit findings, and include with this how, and by when, the auditor's recommendations will be actioned. The audit process is an active means for all operators to ensure that their rail safety system and their various policies and procedures are working to reduce the chance of incidents or accidents occurring at their operation.

5. Message from Craig Hill (General Manager, Policy)

Welcome to the first edition of what I see as a valuable means of keeping you updated on rail safety issues — of which there are a number at the present time. The Railways Bill is obviously of critical importance to everyone in the rail industry, but there is also:

the upcoming commissioning of Britomart in Auckland
the release of the findings of the independent review of SPADs
finalisation of the Remotes Lines Review report
implementation of the various Halliburton infrastructure review recommendations
as well as the changing structure of Tranz Rail.

Here at LTSA we are looking to the future, to a regulatory environment which allows us to be more proactive in working with you on early identification and management of safety risks without being heavy handed. I see our role as helping you in managing your risks. As such, we are getting into the field more, and you can expect to see more of us as time goes on.

6. Next issue

We plan to publish the next issue of this newsletter in August. If you wish to receive more copies of the newsletter, or if there are any topical issues you would like discussed in future issues, please contact info@ltsa.govt.nz.

Last updated: 4 May 2003