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Collaboration – the key to continued safety wins for the rail industry in Australia and the main focus of the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board annual Rail Safety Conference will take place in Brisbane on the 4th and 5th April 2017. We are excited to bring together a faculty of speakers from across the rail industry to share their case studies and safety insights. Sandra Wilson-Ryke, General Manager Risk and Safety Enterprise Services with the ARTC is one of the key speakers on day 1 of the agenda and will give an insight into the Rail Industry Safety Strategy.
We asked Ms Wilson-Ryke why the central theme of “Enhancing Safety through Collaboration” is significant and her thoughts on why collaboration in general is so important for the industry:
It is in the interests of all organisations to have safe operations and to ensure their workers go home to their families safely each day. In the rail industry we do not run unique businesses, we either build and maintain track, build or operate rollingstock, or for some a bit of both.
Safety is a profession quite not like any other; we are open to collaboration and we openly share our learning’s, initiatives and ideas to enable the rail industry to achieve best practice. In doing this our endeavour is to gain consistency for all rail industry workers, so no matter where they work in the industry they will ultimately see a consistent approach. This is a big vision however as safety professionals we are committed to continuing this goal.
Following a site tour of the Bombardier Wulkuraka Maintenance Depot, conference presentation will begin and it’s a big picture items for that afternoon. We will see industry updates from ONRSR, the ARA, TrackSAFE Foundation, RISSB and Transport for NSW. When it comes to her own presentation at the conference, covering the Rail Industry Safety Strategy, Ms Wilson-Ryke will “look to give an overview on how the rail industry collaborated, not only with our counterparts, but with the National Rail Safety Regulator’s Office to deliver the safety strategy. There will be updates on achievements to date and what we are currently working on.”
As Chair of the RISSB Safety Committee Ms Wilson-Ryke also helps to provide strategic advice on rail industry safety issues and she explains “There are four guidelines which we aim to deliver during 2017, contractor guideline, operating RRV guideline, safety critical communications guideline and risk management for driver only operations.”
The rail industry continues to strive for better outcomes and a safer industry for all. There are always things that can be done better when it comes to any industry and we were interested to know whether there were three specific things Ms Wilson-Ryke would like to see change if she was granted three wishes for the industry:
- Never seeing injury or death; our aim is a no harm industry
- Don’t complicate things; our workers have a lot to consider these days. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci
- Our borders are seamless; one law, one regulator, one investigator, one industry
As for the conference itself “It is always great to hear the case studies and initiatives being undertaken by other industries; and of course catching up with industry colleagues!”. We echo that sentiment and look forward to welcoming rail industry professionals to the Pullman Brisbane King George Square on the 4th and 5th April 2017. We hope you can join the discussion!
A special thanks to Sandra Wilson-Ryke, General Manager Risk & Safety, Enterprise Services, ARTC for her time is contributing to this post.
To view further details or register to attend the RISSB Rail Safety Conference 2017 visit the website.
