kym smith - department of planning, transport & infrastructure

Safe Interface through Safety InterfaceLight Rail 2017, Surfers Paradise

Kym SmithOperational Assurance Officer

Overview

• The Adelaide Metropolitan Passenger Rail Network (AMPRN) includes the suburban train and tram networks under Rail Safety Accreditation held by the Rail Commissioner (RCom), operating as part of Adelaide Metro.

• The Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure (DPTI) make available staff to the Rail Commissioner to enable the fulfilment of Accreditation requirements.

Safe Interface through Safety Interface

Light Rail 2017, Surfers Paradise, 21-22 February 2017

Overview

• RCom is required under Rail Safety Accreditation to enter into Safety Interface Agreements with Road Managers with which its railway and tramway operations interface.

• A Safety Interface Agreement was entered into with the Adelaide City Council (ACC) in 2013.



Overview

• This presentation is a short case study about a problem identified during the review of Agreement started in August 2015, culminating in development, trial and implementation of a solution during 2016.



The problem…

• ACC advised of time and cost concerns for their workers accessing on and around the tramway for general maintenance works.

• AMPRN Rules and Network Access Arrangements did not align with the shared environment in which the trams operate, relating more to closed corridors and Authority-based operation and worksite protection.



The problem…

• In simple terms a pedestrian was free to walk across the tramway on their own observation and awareness, complying where required with the Road Traffic Act, but under AMPRN Rules and processes works undertaken by Council required 14-day advance notification and a Protection Officer to protect Council Workers from approaching trams.



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The solution…



The solution…

• Review AMPRN Network Rules and provide a process for ACC workers to work on and around the tramway.

• Tailor a process to enable effective understanding by ACC workers in maintaining separation from tram operations to ensure their safety when working near the tramway.



The solution…



The solution…

• Acknowledges trams are part of a shared road network; thus safeworking arrangements and worker protection need to take into account other road users both in terms of impact from and impact to.

• Utilising Workzone Traffic Management applies a process and standard that is generally recognised in the community.



The challenges…

• Working to the Australian Road Rules under the Road Traffic Act.

• Identifying and addressing gaps within the existing Workzone Traffic Management Standards in relation to interaction of roadway worksites with trams.



The challenges…

• Training ACC workers to

ensure their safety.

• Ensuring Tram Operators

were comfortable with the

altered arrangements.



The challenges…

• Not reinventing the wheel!



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The development…

• Risk workshops and consultation with ACC and RCom staff.



The development…

• Signage.



The development…

• Planning tasks, and developing traffic management plans.



The development…

• Altered Safeworking Arrangements Notice



The trialling…



The glitches…

• STOP / SLOW bat being observed by motorists.• Reverse-read of STOP / SLOW bat by opposite tram

movements.• Signage was time consuming to erect, too large for medians,

and not always able to be displayed professionally.• Approach distances for placing signage deemed too great,

resulting in ACC workers having to be off track for too long.



The fixes…

• Tram Only STOP / SLOW bat developed.

• Provision included for it to be used as two single-sided bats.



The fixes…

• Narrow multi-message signs produced and installed in frames for faster set up and removal.



The fixes…

• Approach distances reduced for works that only affect trams and don’t affect other road users.



The implementation…

• Ongoing permissions once trial was deemed successful.




• Traffic management plans –more complex and greater detail.




• Signage – greater use of electronic signage and lights for mobile works.




• New and reviewed JSAs and processes following experience gained during trials.



The outcomes…

• Effective process for ACC to undertake gardening and maintenance works on and around the tramway.

• The basis for AMPRN Rule improvements for RCom to access on and around the tramway.

• The commencement of development of standards and guidance for external parties undertaking work under Workzone Traffic Management on and around the tramway.



The learnings…

• Build on existing process wherever possible, especially where there is commonality.



The learnings…• Easier to apply road rules

and process that are common knowledge than try to train tram rules and process to people who are unfamiliar with tram operations.



The learnings…

• Don’t under-estimate the time needed to develop, train, trial, re-work, and implement… even what appears simple takes time.



The continuous improvement…

• Separating the trams from the AMPRN Rules and developing a separate Rule Book.

• Continuing the interaction with DPTI Traffic & Access Standards to include learnings from ACC program into the Workzone Traffic Management Standards.

• Capturing the outcomes in the reviewed Safety Interface Agreement to maintain the good working relationship developed with ACC.



Acknowledgements…

• Adelaide City Council Mysafety Team, Horticulture and Garden Irrigation Team,

and Signage Team

• Rail Commissioner Tram Operations Staff, AMPRN Tram Rules Review Group

• DPTI Traffic & Access Standards



Questions…



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kym smith - department of planning, transport & infrastructure

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