Radio room uses PTIPS for risk assessment

“It is impossible not to be concerned when you look at this image and listen to the transcript of the events”

When a bus operator contacts radio room to report a serious hazard they rely on that operator to take the appropriate action to ensure the safety of all road users, the driver, and passengers.

This became no more apparent than following a report of a low hanging power line reported by a driver concerned that the wire may make contact with not only his bus, but others that may pass under it.

The driver took the necessary step of reporting the safety hazard to radio room, but was informed by the operator that a diversion couldn’t be put in place until East 25 had attended and inspected the site.

Despite this report serving as enough of a danger to trigger an immediate diversion, the road remained open.

The driver was asked to continue through the hazard, based on the radio room seeing other buses traveling through the area, but on arrival at his terminus, the driver contacted his local Union delegate to raise his concerns that the hazard was still in place and that services had not been diverted.

The RTBU contacted the depot and found that it took another 30 minutes before any action was taken, leaving the hazard in place for all that time.

Drivers need to trust the radio room to look after their safety, and radio room operators need to trust in the on the ground assessment of safety that drivers make when on a run.

As well, radio room operators and duty officers need to be fully across the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011, so they can make informed decisions that affect the wellbeing of drivers.

If the RTBU didn’t intervene on this particular Saturday afternoon it is quite clear that nothing would have been done and the hazard would’ve been left in place, a situation we find very concerning.

A report has been forwarded to the NCC Manager, drivers get dismissed for less than this based on unsafe work practices this was a clear breach of the WH&S act and people were left exposed to a hazard which could’ve had life threating consequences.