Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB)

Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB)

FY 2014-15 Business Plan

June 2014

Table of Contents

1The Plan

2The RISSB

2.1Achievements

2.2Resourcing

2.3Governance

2.4Staffing and Structure

3RISSB Products

3.1Product Development Process

3.2Product Identification Process

4Relationships with Affiliated and International Organisations

5Marketing

6Attachments

Attachment 1 - Objectives, Tactics and KPIs

Attachment 2 - RISSB Outputs FY14-15 to FY 16-17

Attachment 3 - RISSB Achievements

Attachment 4 - RISSB Budget FY 2014-15……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………21

Attachment 5 – Management Arrangements

Attachment 6 - RISSB’s Affiliated Organisations

Attachment 7 – Marketing Summary

1The Plan

The RISSB FY14-15Business Plan is based on the RISSB Strategic Plan which can be found on the RISSB website at

The Strategic Plan articulates six strategic Objectives for the RISSB namely:

Develop, publish and manage the Australian Rail Industry’s Standards, Codes of Practice, Rules and Guidance Material (the ACOP).
Ensure RISSB has sustainable funding to deliver on its role as Australia’s Rail Industry Standards Organisation.
Establish and operate the Safety Information System for Australasian Rail (SISAR).
Promote RISSB and Rail Industry adoption of the RISSB ACOP to enhance industry competitiveness, productivity, interoperability and harmonisation.
Enhance the safety and sustainability of the rail operating environment by participating in and contributing to programs of national scope and significance

The Strategic plan also identifies a number of Tactics to satisfy each of the objectives above. These are listed in attachment 1 along with the Key Performance Indicators that will be the measure for RISSB in satisfying these Tactics.

Attachment 2 identifies those products which will be delivered by the RISSB in FY14-15 as well as providing an indicative list of projects to be delivered during the following two years. This Business Plan is a living document and will be updated every 12 months and published after Board approval.

2The RISSB

2.1Achievements

RISSB is a Corporations Law Company limited by guarantee and does not have share capital. It is fully owned by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) but operates independently of the ARA. It has been in operation since mid-2004.

RISSB’s Objectives are detailed in its Constitution but in summary RISSB is primarily set up to “develop, own, amend and manage a suite of documents, ‘the Australian Code of Practice (ACOP)’ including codes, standards, rules, guidelines and other documents necessary and desirable to promote railway industry standardisation in Australia”. Attachment 3 contains a list of products produced by RISSB in its short life.

2.2Resourcing

RISSB’s Strategic Plan discusses RISSB finances. The Budget for Financial Year 2014-2015is $3 million for the development of standards, rules, codes of practice and guidelines (the ACOP) as well as salaries and office expenses.

An additional amount of $422Kis provided by stakeholders to cover costs associated with activities which are not related to the ACOP.

Attachment 4 highlights costs associated with RISSB activities in FY14-15.

2.3Governance

The Company structure and governance arrangements are identified in RISSB’s Strategic Plan.

In essence, the RISSB Board approves and monitors all activities undertaken by the RISSB. The RISSB Board convenes at least four times each calendar year. In addition to their normal Board duties, Directors are provided updates on all RISSB activities at each meeting. They also approve the RISSB products for distribution following the:

respective RISSB standing committee approval of the product content; and
Development Advisory Board (DAB) confirmation that proper process was
followed in developing a standard, rule or code.

RISSB’s activities are closely monitored through a numberof mechanisms (apart from the Board), namely:

Audits. RISSB is audited every three years for accreditation purposes. In the intervening years Standards Australia undertakes annual observation audits by Standards Australia to ensure that RISSB is satisfying accreditation requirements. Additionally,RISSB is audited by Governments every three years;the next auditis scheduled to be undertaken in July2015.The aim of this audit is to assess RISSB’s performance in the development, implementation and management of the ACOP; it will include an evaluation of ongoing funding arrangements. Finally, RISSB finances are audited at the end of each Financial Year by an independent auditor.
Reports.RISSB provides bi-annual written reports to Government on its activities, particularly on progress against the Board approved annual work plan. Successful progress will result in a tranche of Government money being released for ongoing development work.

Attachment 5 contains the details of RISSB’s management arrangements.

2.4Staffing and Structure

A copy of RISSB’s organisational structure can be found in the Strategic Plan.

The RISSB structure enables its products to be developed in key functional areas as required by the Industry; development of product is undertaken by independent authors overseen by working groups (including a RISSB Manager as the Chair) comprising industry subject matter experts. Six RISSB Standing Committees, comprising senior managers in the Rail Industry, provide guidance to these working groups and approve the resultant product.

The comprehensive development/governance structure enables RISSB to respond in a timely and efficient manner to industry generated product development requirements.

RISSB has a staff complement of eleven consisting of a Chief Executive Officer, four Project Managers (specialising in Rolling Stock, Infrastructure, Safety and Operations, and Interoperability), a Quality Manager, a Manager responsible for Accreditation, a Marketing Manager, a Business Manager, a Company Secretary/Project Officer responsible for specific rail safety related projects and a Technical Writer.

RISSB staff members are also responsible for managing safety issues within their respective domains.

The structure is lean and has evolved in a manner to ensure a focus on effective industry engagement and industry ownership of the products developed by RISSB.

Underpinning the structure is an outcome-driven culture which engages Industry, and is professional and supportive. The culture ensures the rigour and robustness of the RISSB product while maintaining effective control over resources. Within the RISSB culture, there is a strong belief in transparency and a clear audit trail.

The RISSB culture is unique as it has enabled a relatively small organisation to produce prolifically when compared with other standards generation organisations in Australia and internationally.

3RISSB Products

As mentioned in the Strategic Plan, the RISSB’s remit is to develop and manage standards, codes, rules and guidelines. Collectively these documents are known as the Australian Code of Practice (ACOP).

Due to their legal status, rules and codes of practice are developed using the same process as that for standards. The process has been recognised by Standards Australia, the Australian Transport Council (ATC) and the National Rail Safety Regulator as being robust and thorough.

The National Rail Safety Regulator’s recognition reflects his confidence that the process of development of RISSB standards, codes of practice or rule is sufficiently and consistently rigorous. In other words, any standard, rule or code of practice developed by RISSB may be regarded by the Regulator as being prime facie ‘fit for purpose’. And this recognition obviates the need for each rail organisation to ‘prove’ RISSB’s product on a case-by-case basis to the Regulator.

Guidelines however are not legally binding and therefore do not follow the same process used for other products. A simplified but nonetheless thorough process is used.

Attachment 3 identifies those products produced by RISSB since it was established.

3.1 Product Development Process

The RISSB product development process has evolved over the past years and has enabled the organisation to achieve critical mass in terms of product development.

A key component of the development and comment process is transparency. All comments received during the development and comment phase are promulgated and those providing the comments can see the actions undertaken by RISSB to ensure that the product reflects the comments made. Transparency is achieved in a manner that retains the anonymity of the comment provider, but at the same time, enables the provider to see the outcomes in terms of product. The resulting document is robust and retains high integrity.

It can be seen that the RISSB product development process optimises input from industry stakeholders and meets the accreditation requirements detailed by Standards Australia. The structure has evolved and it provides a balance between the operational and policy requirements of the Rail Industry and also ensures effective tasking and use of resources.

The current RISSB development process is pictorially described in Figure 1. This includes amendments approved by the RISSB Board in September 2014.

RISSB has developed a series of procedures that describe the product development process. These procedures can be found on the RISSB website:

RISSB Development Process

Figure 1: RISSB Development Process

3.2ProductIdentification Process

RISSB determines its forward work program after receiving recommendations through its stakeholders(including RISSB Standing Committees, Development Groups and staff) during the previous 12 months. A product register is maintained and populated as recommendations are made. The products on this register are prioritised by RISSB Standing Committees before the register is socialised with the appropriate stakeholders (including the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator and other interested Government bodies). Aproject priority setting workshop is convened a short time later (usually in March each year) whereparticipants consider the project priorities based on:

improvements to national rail safety;
interoperability;
harmonisation outcomes; and
the cost-benefits that are likely to accrue.

As a result priorities are rearranged and a final list of priority one projects is derived.The RISSB Board considers and approves the list in June each year before funding is assigned to products on this list.

In the absence of a national safety information system, all standardsdeveloped by RISSB are based on the hazards contained in RISSB Hazard Guideline. A copy of this guideline can be found on RISSB’s website at:

4Relationships with Affiliated and International Organisations

Within Australia, the RISSB has developed and successfully maintained critical relationships with the ARA, the CRC for Rail Innovation, and key Australian Government departments.

The RISSB is developing its relationship with international like-minded organisations overseas to ensure that it has access to the latest safety developments and practices overseas. Strong relationships exist with the UK, US Canada, and New Zealand. However, relationships with other countries are slowly being built with Japan,India, South Africa, and Indonesia.

Details of relationships with affiliated organisations and international organisations are set out at Attachment 6.

5Marketing

The RISSB key target markets consist of:

Members –Management (including ARA members);
Members – Employees;
National Rail Associates and Unions; and
International Rail Associations and Unions.

RISSB undertakesregularcustomer satisfaction surveys to identify the level of satisfaction with the RISSB product, and identify areas where RISSB may further improve its products to meet customer requirements. The last survey was undertaken in June 2012. The results of this survey suggest that RISSB’s products are being increasingly used by the Rail Industry as the number of RISSB products reaches critical mass.The next survey is scheduled to be undertaken in July 2014.

Full details of target markets, marketing messages to be conveyed, medium to be utilised in targeting those markets, and outcomes required from RISSB’s marketing endeavours are set out at Attachment 7.

6Attachments

1.RISSB Strategic Objectives, Tactics and KPIs

2.FY14-15 to FY16-17Outputs

3.RISSB Achievements

4.RISSB Budget FY14-15

5.RISSB Management Arrangements

6.Affiliated Organisations

7.RISSB’s Marketing Summary

Attachment 1- Objectives, Tactics and KPIs

The RISSB Objectives, Tactics and KPIs are listed below in bold, numbered paragraphs and red italics respectively.

Develop, publish and manage the Australian Rail Industry’s Standards, Codes of Practice, Rules and Guidance Material (the ACOP).

Focus the ACOP development program on priorities identified by the rail industry and key risk issues identified in the Safety Information System for Australasian Rail (SISAR) (when available).

Complete the FY 14-15 Deliverable Program by July 2015 (Attachment 2).
Complete those projects not delivered in FY13-14 by September 2014

Provide guidance on the best available starting point for specifying new railways until such time as a RISSB’s national suite of standards has been developed
Pursue funding to develop Heavy haul Standards
On receipt of funding commence developing heavy haul standards
Develop ACOP products:

using RISSB’s Standards Australia accredited development process;
using a SFAIRP framework to minimise risk, and
with a focus on the key criteria of productivity enhancement, sustainability and harmonisation.
Complete the FY14-15 Deliverable Program using the RISSB’s accredited development process.
Develop a SFAIRP framework to test RISSB products prior to approval.
This includes identifying controls to identified hazards within ACOP products
Satisfy Standards Australia’s three yearly accreditation requirements.
Pass observation audit by Standards Australia in November 2014.
Continue ACOP development in accordance with approved annual work program.
Ensure RISSB products identify interoperability and harmonisation opportunities
Provide a broad outline of the pathway towards adoption and implementation of RISSB productsthrough a justification section in each document.
Publish and promote a Rail Industry Standards development program to ensure industry is aware of the full potential ACOP suite.
Provide quarterly articles to Industry journals and publications about RISSB activities.
Provide feedback on RISSB Board outcomes after each meeting.
Post the long term development plan on the RISSB website.
Build links with AAR, RSSB and other international standards setting agenciesand promote global benchmarking.
Pursue access to world best practice information during development of RISSB products.
Provide a paper on RISSB activities at a minimum of one international forum per year.
Invite one member from AAR, RSSB, RAC, or UIC to speak at the Rail Safety conference each year.
Ensure regular dialogue with these organisations is established to ensure access to international data that assists in the development of the ACOP.
Promote use of international standards for Australian industry use where practical to reduce duplication and local standards development cost.
Ensure RISSB products acknowledge appropriate International and national standards that represent ‘good’ practicewith better practice examples.

Ensure RISSB has sustainable funding to deliver on its role as Australia’s Rail Industry Standards Organisation.

Broaden contributions from Industry through a targeted campaign headed by the CEO’s of RISSB and ARA.

Develop strategy and take then appropriate action
In conjunction with the ARA, engage with government to seek additional funding by clearly demonstrating the societal benefit associated with additional funding to support RISSB’s ACOP development work.

Obtain government funding to meet resourcing requirements.
Provide advice to Governments’ by 30 April and 30 Octobereach year on satisfying funding MOU requirements.
Work with Government to increase Government MOU contribution.
Prepare a paper that provides a comparison of other Governments support of Railways and its proportion to GDP.
Maximise funding from other sources such as training, conferences, etc.

Renegotiate profit returns from Informa when current contract expires
Investigate feasibility of undertaking additional courses in house.
Invest cash holdings in high interest bearing accounts
Actively seek industry participation and ‘in kind’ input to reduceACOP document development costs.

Ensure major stakeholder involvement in RISSB standing committees.
Seek broad project development group participation through RISSB/ARA communication channels (Attachment 7).
Work with the National Rail Safety Regulator to identify feasible options of mandating RISSB funding for all accredited operators

Establish and operate the Safety Information System for Australasian Rail (SISAR).

Drive the establishment of the database using the most economical and practical means to deliver it.

Work with Industry and Sydney trains to undertake a trial of the SISAR
July – December 2014
On completion of trial act in accordance with the project plan to introduce SISAR
Promote its use throughout the Rail Industry including input of individual company data.

At RISSB/ARA conferences, and through RISSB communiques
Facilitate reporting and benchmarking while maintaining strict confidentiality of individual company information.
Utilise the database to inform the program of standards development and the focus of individual standards.

Promote RISSB and Rail Industry adoption of the RISSB ACOP to enhance industry competitiveness, productivity, interoperability and harmonisation.

Promote RISSB as the rail industry’s standard setting body in the Standards Australia and ISO standards forums.

Maintain RISSB’s annual accreditation with Standards Australia
Enhance relationships with Standards Australia, SAI Global, and ISO through regular attendance at their six monthly forums in Australia.
RISSB receives regular invitations to these forums.
Develop and maintain effective relationships with the National Rail Safety Regulator (NRSR)and other relevant government bodies and work to ensure that RISSB processes and products assist Rail Industry companies to meet NRSR and other government requirements.

ObtainONRSR input into RISSB products.
Obtain ONRSR and Government participation in RISSB project priority setting process
Participate in ONRSR CEO Stakeholder meetings every quarter.
Provide briefings on RISSB product development to Governments as required.
Respond to ONRSRand Governments request for information on RISSB products within ten working days.
Seek ONRSR briefings at Industry Safety Managers group meetings every four months.
By 30 Apr and 30 Octobereach year provide reports to Government on RISSB and its products in accordance with the Government/Industry funding MOU.

Build relationship between RISSB and ONRSR
Encourage RISSB staff to regularly communicate with ONRSR staff

Engage Governments through the funding MOU.
Promote mutual recognition of individual ARO assessments of new equipment, systems and standards.
Encourage AROs to share assessments through RISSB Standing Committees and Board.
Develop a standard on Type approval which encourages acceptance of new equipment and systems without duplicating assessments done by others
Promote and market RISSB products and facilitate industry take-up.

Provide support (as required) to national railways on the use of RISSB products.
Provide support (as required) to international railways on the use of RISSB products (eg the ARA/Indonesian Memorandum of Co-operation).
Ensure RISSB’s website remains ‘user friendly’.
Produce and distribute marketing material that is short and succinct.

Provide a paper to CORE conferences on RISSB and its products.
Promote and market RISSB products at the CORE conferences.
Lease a RISSB stand at the CORE conferences
Lease a stand at AusRail
Promote RISSB products at AusRail in Perth in 2014.
Provide two major articles on RISSB and its products each year for major Rail Publications such as Track and Signal.
Provide quarterly articles about RISSB and its products to Rail Express.
Provide a quarterly (minimum) communiqué on RISSB activities.
Provide a paper for the annual International Rail Safety conference
Pursue marketing opportunities through RISSB’s marketing plan.
Monitor and report on industry take-up of RISSB products.

Commission a take up survey of RISSB products in the third quarter of FY 2014-15.
Facilitate Rail Industry forums to promote the ACOP and industry engagement in its development.

Host the Rail Safety conference in March 2015
Provide a paper and presentation at the annual rail safety conference in March 2015.
Host the turnout’s workshop in May and November each year.
Host rail derailment and analysis course and workshops each year in Canberra/Adelaide.
Provide a paper and presentation at the CORE Conferences.
Provide a paper for the annual International Rail Safety conference.
Engage with Rail Suppliers National Association (RSNA)and the Light Rail Group (LRG) to improve supply efficiency.
RNSA and LRGproduce standards and Codes through the RISSB.
RSNA and LRGResources will be required.

Enhance the safety and sustainability of the rail operating environment by participating in and contributing to programs of national scope and significance