Rail Safety Investigation - Interim Factual Statement - Rail worksite protection in NSW systemic investigation - April 2022

View the Interim Factual Statement

What happened

Since its inception in 2004, OTSI has investigated numerous rail worksite protection incidents and accidents, including fatal events.

After consideration and analysis of investigation findings, incident notification data and other sources of information, OTSI has determined that a systemic investigation in rail worksite protection NSW is warranted.

Investigation scope

The scope of the investigation includes:

• what controls Rail Infrastructure Managers have in place to manage worksite protection
• common causal pathways to worksite protection incidents
• patterns of incidents specifically related to particular planning phases, or types of protection
• technology controls proposed, researched, trialed, or currently being used to improve worksite protection in NSW and elsewhere
• examination of whether there are common barriers to the adoption of higher order controls that minimise or eliminate workers on track including enabler to support uptake
• actions taken to improve worksite protection in general in NSW and elsewhere
• how others, both interstate and internationally are managing worksite protection and in particular introduction of higher order controls
• the conduct of risk assessments and how they address worksite protection risks and controls.

The final investigation report will be provided to the Minister for tabling in both Houses of the NSW Parliament in accordance with section 46D of the Passenger Transport Act 1990. The Minister is required to table the report within seven days of receiving it.

Following tabling, the report is published on the OTSI website and information on the safety lessons promoted to relevant stakeholders. The published report will replace this Interim Factual Statement.

The following reports have been completed as part of this systemic investigation:

Rail Worksite Protection in NSW - Report 1- Picton - 16 August 2022

Rail Worksite Protection in NSW - Report 2 - Cowan - 11 January 2023