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Rail Industry Compliances

Civil contractors working on rail infrastructure projects are subject to a rigorous compliance regime of competency assessments, plant and equipment risk assessment and general capability assessment. The core employee competency criteria companies must satisfy is the Rail Industry Worker competencies.

What is Rail Industry Worker?

Rail Industry Worker is a national competency management system for rail workers.

By law, everyone working on the Australian rail network must be able to provide proof of competency. This is the best way to reduce the risk of untrained people working on the rail network.

The Rail Industry Worker (RIW) program provides a single online competency management system for Australian rail workers. It’s endorsed by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) on behalf of members, meets regulatory requirements and complies with national rail safety law.

Contractor engagement and workforce management specialists Pegasus manage the RIW process, including collecting and verifying individual records, skills sets, training and competencies, and producing, distributing and administering associated competency and access cards.

The Pegasus software, Onsite Track Easy, is the real-time online contractor management solution that powers the Rail Industry Worker program. Onsite:

  • Provides immediate access to data on rail contractors
  • Manages training and inductions
  • Administers rail contractor compliance and pre-qualification documents
  • Manages the qualifications and competency, including licences and medicals, of all rail workers
  • Awards accreditation upon successful completion of inductions and assessments
  • Provides tools for audit, investigation and inspection of rail contractors
  • Offers online and call centre support

After a 100 point identification check, Pegasus verifies the competence and identification of each applicant before their details are registered in the system and they receive their RIW card.

Competency Criteria – Rail Industry Worker (RIW) Qualification

There are a large number of categories for employees, depending on the type of works, client and authorities’ jurisdictions under which contractors are working. The commonly requested compliance documentation that must be provided in order for workers to qualify for their RIW card includes (but is not limited to):

  • MTM – Operator
  • Around the track personnel – National
  • Plant Operator tickets
  • CAT 3 Medical Assessment including Drug and Alcohol
  • OHS-WHS Works Safely in Construction Industry (White card)
  • Rail Statement of Attainment – Track Safety Awareness or equivalent
  • Rail Corridor Inductions for Specific projects
  • Metro Safety and Environmental Induction
  • Safely Access the Rail Corridor, etc

Employee competency (and identification) requirements under some rail projects who utilise 3rd party Accreditation providers such as ‘3D Safety’ include current documentation which includes (but is not limited to):

  • Photograph
  • Photo ID
  • Construction Induction Card
  • RIW Card (refer above)
  • Specific Project Induction
  • Plant Operator ticket
  • Drug and alcohol assessment (not less than 30 days old for new employee uploads)
  • Respective client requirements (e.g. Lendlease’s Stream 5 – GMR EH&S Passport Training (CTD)

Plant, Vehicle and Equipment Compliances

Plant, requirements under some rail projects who utilise 3rd party Accreditation providers such as ‘3D Safety’ include current documentation which includes (but is not limited to):

  • Plant Risk Assessment
  • Current registration papers
  • Plant Hire Inspection reports (annually)
  • Service History

CCF specialist consultants are able to assist contractors to meet their compliance obligations for all types of Rail related works.

FIND OUT MORE

For more information on this subject, contact the CCF Team on 1300 DIAL CCF.

More Information

More information on industry compliance is readily available to CCF Members via the CCF Member Portal.

Interested in becoming a member? CLICK HERE to apply.