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measures have allowed the ATSB to enter
this financial year with renewed financial
sustainability. This has enabled us to recruit
and train an additional 17 transport safety
investigators. Our new cohort of recruits are
currently progressing through their training,
Resilient and which will take about 18 months to complete.
Some have already deployed to accident sites
and are making a positive impact in improving
transport safety by applying their existing and
newly learnt skills.
data-driven functions within an operational structure.
As with most organisations, the ATSB
An investigation is carried out by a team
of investigators led by an investigator in
charge, who reports to an investigation
manager. Before a final investigation report is
published, it goes through a quality assurance
process to ensure an appropriate level of rigour
has been applied. I review all reports before
sending them to our three Commissioners for
their review. As you can see, investigations are
a real team effort.
of Expectations, our primary focus is on The ATSB of today is a contemporary,
enhancing safety with respect to the travelling ‘The findings should not resilient, data-driven agency intent on
public, and in particular, those occurrences improving transport safety for the travelling
that may present a significant threat to public be read as apportioning public. The future of the ATSB will certainly
safety and are the subject of widespread public have its challenges as we embrace the further
interest. If there is no obvious public safety blame.’ rise in use of remotely-piloted aerial systems,
benefit to investigating an accident, we are less fully autonomous trains and other driverless
likely to conduct a complex, resource-intensive GREG HOOD modes of transport.
investigation. We are only a small agency, with around
Also, there are diminished safety benefits investigation, we notify the relevant parties so 110 staff. However, each and every one of us is
from investigating occurrences where there appropriate safety action can be taken. dedicated, focused and committed to improving
are obvious contributing factors, such as an A recent example was the issuing of a safety transport safety. We have a depth and breadth
accident involving high energy, low-level advisory notice (SAN) following the collision of skills at the ATSB including pilots, engineers,
aerobatics. As a result of this strategy, we with water of EC135 VH-ZGA near Port materials failure experts, physicists, human
commenced 127 investigations during the Hedland on March 14 2018. Within weeks of factors specialist, ship’s captains, train drivers,
2017-18 financial year across the three modes of this accident, we identified the importance of rail engineers, air traffic controllers, cabin safety
transport, compared to 162 investigations in the frequent helicopter underwater escape training specialists and a broad range of specialists
previous period. (HUET) for aircrew and regular passengers to across our corporate services.
We are currently completing complex increase survivability of an in-water accident In the course of their investigation activities,
investigations in an average timeframe of 16 or ditching. We immediately contacted all our investigators are required to be ready to
months. While this exceeds our 12-month helicopter operators conducting regular deploy at any time of the day or night, 365
target, it is commensurate or better than a overwater operations informing them of the days of the year, in any weather conditions, to
number of our international counterparts. We SAN. Anecdotally, we have been informed any serious incident or accident anywhere in
have a program of work in place to improve our by HUET providers of a noticeable increase Australia, and sometimes in Indonesia or Papua
timeliness. in enquiries and bookings for this essential New Guinea.
As is indicated on our website, all training. At accident sites, our investigators sift
completion dates for investigations are We are very aware of the impact a delay to through the wreckage to look for contributing
‘anticipated’. Transport safety investigations are an investigation can have on directly involved factors. They must gather all available evidence,
complex and dynamic. The completion of an parties, including next-of-kin. While the interview witnesses, collect CCTV and other
investigation can be delayed due to a range of outcomes of an investigation might bring camera footage, obtain crew and maintenance
reasons, including being influenced by factors closure to these parties, our goal is always to records, recover data from cockpit voice
outside of the ATSB’s control. For example, improve transport safety. Directly involved recorders, flight data recorders, smart phones,
the examination and analysis phase of an parties are important to investigations as they tablets, GPS units or any other electronic
investigation requires reviewing complex data form a part of the natural justice process. We do devices which may be useful for analysis.
and available evidence, which can sometimes our very best to keep them and other involved Investigators are also required to deal with the
be vague, incomplete and or contradictory. This parties informed on the progress throughout police, disaster victim identification teams,
may prompt the collection of more evidence, the course of an investigation. Any delay to an landowners, witnesses and directly involved
which in turn needs to be analysed and anticipated release of a report is regrettable and parties.
examined, and can potentially add to the length I acknowledge that this can generate frustration The team at the ATSB is truly the most
of an investigation. and uncertainty. However, it is very important remarkable workforce that I have had the
We do not wait for the completion of an that we conduct a thorough and meticulous privilege to lead, and I look forward to
investigation before amplifying our safety investigation. ensuring the reputation of the ATSB remains
messages. If a critical or significant safety To help improve our timeliness, the as one of the most respected transport safety
issue is identified during the course of the Australian Government’s recent budget investigation agencies in the world.
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