Message from the CEO

As we near the end of the financial year, RISSB is experiencing significant growth and continues  to consolidate its position in the rail industry. Not only as an accredited Standards Development Organisation, but also as a business that is forward-thinking, market responsive and one which embraces technology and innovation.

In today’s commercial landscape, we need to look at ways to provide value and ensure that we produce the right results for stakeholders, particularly as our membership base grows and we welcome new members.

It's no surprise that right now the Australian rail sector is growing in significance while simultaneously experiencing a knowledge drain. So, whether it’s through conferences, summits, forums or online resources, the strong leadership and knowledge that we have in the industry today must in-turn be passed onto the leaders of tomorrow if we are to sustain a competitive rail sector. To this end, I can think of no better way to develop and mentor the next generation of young rail professionals than through RISSB's Horizons Program.

We've received strong interest in Horizons from industry with numerous applications being received during the past few days. The applications I've seen are of a very high standard and I'd like to thank all our stakeholders for supporting this important initiative.

With the imminent delivery of Australia’s first Cyber Security Standard, our new Horizons Program and another world-class conference in September, I'm excited about the future and what the rest of the calendar year holds. 

As we continue to deliver tangible benefits, we are well positioned to deliver even more value to our stakeholders.

We will continue to push forward with new ideas and new products, with an unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional value to each and every one of our stakeholders.

Paul Daly
RISSB CEO
 

RISSB's Horizons Program 

Thirty young rail professionals from across the country will be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to broaden their horizons when they join an innovative professional development program.

Part leadership development, part technology incubator, part knowledge sharing, RISSB's 15 month Horizons Program will encourage highly motivated young professionals working in the rail sector to embrace innovation and develop the skills, knowledge and networks necessary for effective leadership in the workplace.  The program will encourage participants to explore issues critical to the rail industry and provide opportunities for interaction with key industry leaders and peers.

With a focus on experiential learning, the Horizons Program curriculum includes forums, discussions, presentations, visits and online collaborative learning through webinars. Participants will also join RISSB Development Groups and contribute to the development of Australian Standards, Guidelines or Codes of Practice.

The new program responds to demographic shifts in the rail sector and is part of a broader approach by RISSB to encourage innovation and support a dynamic and sustainable rail sector. 

The Horizons Program will encompass activities aimed at providing knowledge and understanding of:

• The broader rail industry and the role of RISSB.
• The future of rail in the context of evolving technology and changing societal demands.
• New and innovative technology that can shape rail and transport more broadly.
• Learnings from technical leaders in industry.
• The young professional themselves as an individual and in the workplace.
• The role young professionals can play in shaping the technical future of the industry including RISSB’s future directions and focus areas.

The Horizons Program will formally kick off with a two-day forum in Brisbane on the 13 and 14 of September. 

Are you interested?
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If you want to speak to someone about the program, please contact Phil Allan at RISSB via email pallan@rissb.com.au or on mobile number 0401 120 978.

For more information on the Horizons Program or to download a nomination form, please visit https://www.rissb.com.au/events/horizons-program/

Don't forget to put your nomination form in before the end of the month. Program nominations close on 30 June.

Successful nominators and nominees will be contacted by a member of the RISSB team in July. 

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2018 RISSB Rail Cyber Security Conference
Threats and opportunities of a digital railway 
11-12 September 2018 

More than 100 stakeholders representing rail industry suppliers, State and Federal Government, rail train operators and security agencies are expected to converge in Brisbane from 11-12 September to attend RISSB's Rail Cyber Security Conference.

Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, RISSB's 2018 conference is back with more topics, more speakers and more ideas on how to manage a cyber security threat and flourish in a digital age.

Drawing on critical incidents from around the globe, conference topics include: 

• Evolving threat profile: Cyber security outlook for Australia
• Technical case studies
• Managing threats to the railway network and supply chain
• Response and recovery strategies
• Culture, awareness and training
• Capability and leadership
• Moving from legacy systems
• Security system updates: Software and vendor solutions
• Protecting existing control systems
• The convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT)
• Integration or Isolation of (OT and IT) networks
• The commercial importance of security governance
• Protect, detect, respond and recover: Cyber Security Management Systems.

Abstracts - Deadline Extended
Are you interested in speaking at RISSB's 2018 Rail Cyber Security Conference? RISSB invites you to submit a 400-600 word abstract of a proposed paper in your area of expertise related to rail cyber security.  Please send your abstract to info@rissb.com.au by 30 June 2018.  All abstracts will be reviewed for relevance, timeliness, and quality.

Submissions should contain your full contact details and any commercial affiliations along with a presentation title, theme and main findings, strategy or solution.

Sponsorships
We have a variety of conference sponsorship opportunities available, including gold and silver event sponsorship and a conference dinner sponsorship opportunity.  If you are interested in any of these options, please send your sponsorship enquiry to info@rissb.com.au.
 

RISSB Meetings Report

(Please contact Phil Allan for more information on these meetings)

Rail Industry Safety Strategy Taking Shape

The Safety Managers Group (SMG) will finalise the Rail Industry Safety Strategy 2018-2020 at its meeting in Brisbane on 18/19 June. Based on the themes of REGULATION, INFORMATION and EDUCATION, the Strategy includes more than 30 actions for industry to progress and report back to SMG.

Management of Change Standard Drafting Underway

Following two Development Group (DG) meetings and excellent feedback from DG members between meetings, a Management of Change Standard is being drafted for a DG teleconference on 3 July 2018. The Standard will be released for public consultation later that month.

Safety Assurance Guideline Well Advanced

Following two DG meetings and excellent feedback from DG members, a draft Systems Safety Assurance (SSA) Guideline is now being drafted. The Guideline will assist the rail industry by providing a suggested SSA process and detailed information about that process. The Guideline is due for publication later this year.

NTC Releases Consultation Report

NTC has released a consultation report on its considerations into expanding the testing criteria for sleep disorders and reconsideration of the health assessments for Category 3 around the track personnel under the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers.  The report makes three recommendations for further work over the next 12 months:

Recommendation 1: The NTC recommends further research is undertaken by relevant field experts, such as the Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity (Alertness CRC) in consultation with the Chief Medical Officers Council, to quantify and describe the risk of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea based on other screening criteria.

Recommendation 2: The NTC recommends further research is undertaken by relevant field experts, such as the Chief Medical Officers Council in consultation with industry, to quantify and describe the risk to Category 3 ATTP of medical or health conditions not covered by the Standard or other regulatory regimes.

Recommendation 3: The NTC recommends that education and training materials are developed by relevant field experts, such as the Chief Medical Officers Council, and communicated to Authorised Health Professionals and other industry bodies to clarify the assessment and referral criteria required for Category 3 ATTP, with emphasis on the conditions listed in the Category 3 health questionnaire but not specifically covered in the Category 3 standard.

The full report is available on the NTC website.
 

Meetings Scheduled for June

18 Safety Standing Committee (Bris)
18-19 Safety Managers Group (Bris)
19 SPAD Working Group (Bris)
20-21 National Track Worker Safety Forum (Bris)
21 Safeworking by Committee (Bris)
21 National Rules Industry Advisory Group (Bris)
21 Ops & Perform. Standing Committee (Bris.)
25 Systems Interface Committee (Adel)
26 Train Control Standing Committee (Adel)
26 Rolling Stock Standing Committee (Adel)
26 Infrastructure Standing Committee (Adel)
 

RISSB On Track to Deliver Infrastructure Products in July

RISSB is finalising two important infrastructure products in July:

1.    Track Stability Code of Practice (which sets out the requirements for managing the stability of tracks for train operations in Australia), and

2.     Continuous Welded Rail Guideline (which provides guidance on the management of rail thermal expansion and other stresses, and guidelines for managing de-stressing, welding, repairing, adjustment in straights and curves, removing rail defects, creep monitoring and control, and restrictions related to hot and cold weather).

Watch this space for the release of these two documents next month.

The two documents will complement RISSB’s AS 7643 Track Stability (currently under review) and the AS 1085 series which will be transitioning over from Standards Australia to RISSB very soon. 

Call for Public Consultations

Four RISSB products and a product amendment are now in an 8-week public consultation:

AS 7518 Suspension
AS 7530 Electrical Systems
AS 7514 Wheels
AS 7643 Track Stability
AS 7527 Event Recorders (amendment)

To access each draft , please visit the corresponding page link.
 

Upcoming Events