Fatal cane rail incident

Possible control measures to prevent similar incidents

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a duty to ensure workers and other people are not exposed to health and safety risks, including the risks associated with cane rail operations. Planning and design of new rail installations should include consideration of issues such as access for maintenance of trackside areas and installations that encourage safe practices.

Fly shunting is prohibited (uncontrolled movement of bins).

Loose shunting (bins are loose but are under control) should only be used following a risk assessment and implementation of appropriate controls.

This risk assessment should be documented and incorporated into work instructions that are rigorously audited. Rail operators should develop shunt plans. All shunting activities involving propelling movements should be assessed for any additional risks of collision and/or striking others.

Adequate lighting should be provided in areas that are used on a regular basis during the night, for example: full and empty yards, trans-loaders; and marshalling yards.

Safe systems of work

A safe system of work should be implemented to manage the risks associated with cane railway operations. This could include, but is not limited to the following:

• Ensuring no work takes place between bins while the bins or the locomotive is moving (exclusion zone). Workers should not walk within the profile of the track whilst shunting, particularly when protecting propelling movements. Instead, walkways (‘safe places’) or exclusion zones should be used.

Figure 1: Danger Zones and Safe Places

Note: In certain circumstances, the distance from the danger zone to the safe place is 2.5 metres (not 3 metres).

• Workers and others involved in shunting activities should remain in the line of sight of driver until the train is stationary. Ropes should only be used for loose shunting when no other option is reasonably practicable and after a risk assessment which identifies appropriate controls. Workers should maintain an exclusion zone to be outside of the snapback zone when loose shunting.
• Safe work procedures must be developed to ensure processes are in place and understood regardless of whether there are direct communications available between rail crew and others. Training for workers must include recognition of the danger zone, and how to apply continual vigilance when undertaking shunting activities.
• Adequate and appropriate training is a requirement for managing the risks associated with cane rail operations. Training should cover the specific hazards, risks and controls associated with jobs or tasks that are carried out by the worker receiving the training. The training should be appropriate to the type of work to be performed.
• For rail networks that have single driver operations, sidings and yards must be risk assessed to ensure shunting procedures do not reduce loco driver visibility.
• When leaving cane bins in sidings or on the main line while shunting, ensure they are restrained so that they cannot move in any direction. This is normally achieved using brake wagons, chocks or mechanical restraints.
• Ensuring maintenance of trackside areas, including vegetation control, levelling, removal of trip hazards and covering of drains.
• PCBU’s must also consult with workers whose health and safety is likely to be affected (consultation must be regular and ongoing).
• Ensuring any environmental risk factors – ground conditions, terrain, weather (including seasonal changes) have been considered and assessed.
• For locomotive crews involved in shunting activities they must:
  • never jump off a locomotive - always dismount by stepping off
  • not access or egress from a locomotive unless travelling at a speed of walking pace or less, and crew are trained to access and egress at this speed
  • move briskly but not run
  • not ride on cane bins
  • not cross the path of a moving locomotive or cane bins
  • when stepping from the locomotive, leave on the side on which the work is to take place. If the operator is required to depart the locomotive it should be at a stop and brakes applied
  • ensure they remain visible to other relevant workers
  • ensure walkways for shunting activities are maintained
  • ensure a five-metre separation distance for people in front of and behind plant on the corridor.
• Other shunting movement controls should involve the use of multiple communication methods such as:
  • voice radio communication
  • hand signals
  • torch signals
  • headlight signals
  • locomotive horn codes
  • documented shunting procedures for generic and specific sidings.

Any remaining risk must be minimised with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, use of hard hats, steel cap boots and high-visibility vests.

Administrative control measures and PPE rely on human behaviour and supervision. If used on their own, they are least effective in minimising risks. The control measures you put in place should be reviewed regularly to make sure they work as planned.