Tuesday, June 11, 2024

ONRSR Boosts Strategic Focus of Drug and Alcohol Testing

The move to a more targeted and data driven approach will allow ONRSR to better deploy its D&A resources and provide flexibility to react to emerging operational and social issues.

Rail Safety National Law (RSNL) requires rail transport operators to have a Drug and Alcohol Management Plan (DAMP) as part of their overall safety management system. Continuing arrangements under these DAMPs will ensure individuals involved in incidents are tested while allowing ONRSR to conduct more risk-based and intelligence led testing programs.

In addition to the testing programs run by operators, ONRSR undertakes both programmed unannounced testing along with post incident testing in response to Category A safety occurrences. Under the new approach, ONRSR will seek to avoid double ups with operators post incident testing while still maintaining a testing presence at serious incidents.

ONRSR is reminding all operators and rail safety workers that individuals must not carry out or attempt to carry out rail safety work while there is any presence of alcohol or a ‘prescribed drug’ in their system or whilst being under the influence of any drug.

A range of additional information is available on the ONRSR website’s dedicated Drug and Alcohol Testing web page and via a series of Drug and Alcohol specific Fact Sheets.

All operators are reminded that their obligations under Rail Safety National Law Regulations remain unchanged, in particular the requirement to report, respond and test following prescribed incidents.

For further information email drugandalcohol@onrsr.com.au