• Safety Message: Wabtec Air Brake System – advice to Rail Transport Operators
  18 February 2021
  

• Safety Message: Preparedness and Awareness - Know Your Operation and Kit
  18 February 2021
  

• Safety Message: Track Worker Safety National Priority Project Update
  24 November 2020
  

• Safety message: Digital recreation #2 - Uncontrolled wagon movement
  21 October 2020
  

• Safety Message: Network Controller competencies
  19 August 2020
  ONRSR is advising operators to assess competency of network controllers following an emerging trend.

• Safety message: Emergency communications and readiness
  22 July 2020
  Training for an emergency situation is important so that it becomes routine, as much as possible.

• Safety message: Digital recreation - Safety critical communication
  25 June 2020
  This digital recreation explores the issue of a communications breakdown that resulted in a near miss for a track worker

• Regulating during COVID-19 - Freight
  21 May 2020
  Regardless of the current circumstances, the principles of risk management, risk control, and active supervision continue to be a legal and critical requirement even if there is a need to perform work in different conditions.

• Safety Message - Rail Safety Officers: Powers under Rail Safety National Law
  16 April 2020
  ONRSR’s rail safety officers (RSOs) are our primary interface with accredited rail transport operators and they are based in each of our offices around the country.

• Safety Message - Safety Management System Case Study - ONRSR and ASSCO
  10 February 2020
  ONRSR recently worked with the Australian Society of Section Car Operators to address an outdated safety management system and safety culture. The experience serves as an important reminder to all rail transport operators to ensure safety is always the top priority

• Safety Message - Load distribution for Road Rail Vehicles
  13 December 2019
  Rail Transport Operators are reminded that wheel loads effect safe guidance of vehicles on track with excessive loads leading to damaged rolling stock components and track structures.

• Lessons Learned: ONRSR & GWA - Whyalla Runaway Incident
  20 November 2019
  This document shares findings made from a runaway incident that occurred on 31 July 2019 in Whyalla, South Australia that should be used as an input to the risk review processes for operators managing a similar operating scenario.

• Safety message: Passengers caught in rolling stock doors - Risks, causes and controls
  28 October 2019
  ONRSR has developed new guidance for rail transport operators about the potential causes of incidents where people get stuck in rolling stock doors. It includes information regarding the existing controls available to eliminate or minimise the risk.

• Safety Message - Track Condition and Derailment Risk
  20 September 2019
  ONRSR is emphasising to all Rail Infrastructure Managers (RIMs) the increased risks posed by poorly maintained track following a series of recent derailments.

• Safety Message: ONRSR Investigation Findings: Worksite Protection Incidents
  8 August 2019
  ONRSR is reminding all operators of the importance of careful planning when carrying out Track Occupancy Authority and Local Possession Authority activities.

• Safety Message: Unsafe Loading of Coal Wagons
  1 July 2019
  This safety message is directed to coal loading operators and any other rolling stock operators responsible for loading coal into wagons.

• Safety Message - Importance of a System Engineering Approach
  26 March 2019
  Following recent incidents and observations the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) is reminding all operators of the importance of a system engineering approach.

• Safety Message - Rolling Stock Maintenance - November 2018
  1 November 2018
  

• Safety Message: Fatigue risk management programs and enterprise bargaining agreements
  1 August 2018
  Some rail transport operators (RTO) may choose to apply arrangements from enterprise bargaining agreements to their fatigue risk management program. In this instance there are strict obligations that an RTO’s safety management system must meet.

• Safety Message: Management of emergency working (unplanned works)
  1 March 2018
  ONRSR is reminding all rail transport operators to be aware of the inherent risks associated with undertaking emergency or unplanned maintenance.

• Safety Message: ATSB investigation report findings on use of bio-mathematical models of human fatigue – learnings for the rail industry
  1 December 2017
  An ATSB-identified limitation of use of the bio-mathematical model FAID has relevance to the rail industry.

• Asbestos found in imported friction wear plates in rail carriages – WA Government alert
  21 November 2017
  Asbestos has recently been found in friction wear plates in the suspension systems of rail carriages.

• Technical Review: Wheel Failure Incidents and Other Data in the Hunter Valley: 2013–2015
  4 October 2017
  A review of the metallurgical and associated factors covering eight wheel failure incidents, issued for the benefit of like-for-like railways.

• Safety Message: ONRSR Road Rail Vehicle National Project – Human Factors Observations
  4 April 2017
  Sets out ONRSR's road rail vehicle (RRV) human factors observations and analyses.

• Safety Message: Preventing unbraked runaways of permanently coupled wagons with shared braking platforms
  11 November 2014
  The ONRSR is concerned about the risk of permanently coupled pairs of freight wagons, which share a braking system, becoming uncoupled and resulting in a runaway. Rail operators are expected to reassess the risk/s associated with permanently coupled wagons and consider additional measures to mitigate these risks.

• Safety Message: An emerging issue: 'shattered rim' wheel defects
  30 June 2014
  Australian rail operators may need to review and revise risk registers to manage the hazards associated with ‘shattered rim’ following two recent incidents, which may be indicators of a larger safety issue for the industry.

• Safety Message: Learning lessons from international rail incidents
  5 March 2014
  Investigation reports into rail accidents overseas can provide valuable lessons learned which, when applied, may reduce the risk of these incidents occurring in Australia.

• Safety Message: Managing the risks associated with roadrail vehicles
  28 August 2013
  The ONRSR has been working closely with the rail industry to assist in the identification and management of risks associated with the operation of Road/Rail Vehicles (RRVs).

View Safety Messages issued by other jurisdictions

• Safety Alert - Use of rail vehicle lifting jacks
  16 April 2019
  Safety Alert Notice to Rail Transport Operators - Use of rail vehicle lifting jacks

• Safety Alert - RSA-2019-001 - Identification of asbestos
  17 January 2019
  RSA 2019-001 - Identification of asbestos on locomotive main air reservoir gasket

• Safety Alert: Use of Electronically Controlled Pneumatic braking and Automatic Train Protection systems
  20 November 2018
  ONRSR alerts all operators on the actions that should be taken by rail transport operators utilising ECP braking systems.

• RSA-2018-001 Identification of Asbestos in Draft Gear Pocket Wear Liner
  26 September 2018
  ONRSR alerts all operators to the identification of Chrysotile (white asbestos) in the top coupler / yoke pin wear liner of the draft pocket on a locomotive.

• RSA-2016-01 Site specific risk assessments when using Road Rail Vehicles
  25 August 2016
  Notice to Rail Transport Operators, 24 August 2016.

• RSA-2015-01 Identification of asbestos gasket in coal wagon valves
  19 January 2015
  This Safety Alert states the ONRSR has been advised by Asciano of the idenfitication of an asbestos gasket in a valve on a Pacific National coal wagon.

• RSA-2014-03 Operational interfaces between Rail Infrastructure Managers and Rolling Stock Operators – mixed and dual gauge turnouts
  20 August 2014
  This safety alert states that due to the design of the wheel transfer area of some mixed and dual gauge turnouts, rolling stock with wheelsets of 127mm rim width are at higher risk of derailment than wheelsets of 140mm rim width.

• RSA-2014-02 Thermal spraying
  3 April 2014
  This Safety Alert states a major passenger operator recently suffered an axle failure on one of its electric multiple unit fleet.

• RSA-2014-01 Structural fatigue failure of wagon underframe
  17 March 2014
  This Safety Alert states a PQMY container flat wagon suffered a significant fatigue failure at a sectional change in the under-frame (ie. main longitudinal beams).

• RSA-2013-02 Coupling systems and brake systems fitted to infrastructure trolleys and trailers
  18 November 2013
  This Safety Alert states that Rail Transport Operators should examine all risks associated with using Road Rail Vehicles (RRV) to tow/push rolling stock.

• RSA-2013-01 Derailers - Failure to derail due to faulty design, installation, maintenance or operation
  26 April 2013
  This Safety Alert states that the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator was recently notified of an incident in which rolling stock travelled over a derailer without derailing.

View Alerts issued by other jurisdictions