One organisation says it affected a 'limited number of students'
The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) has issued a safety alert on two organisations following alleged compromised safety working competencies.
The two organisations involved are the Skilled Rail Services Pty Ltd and the Centre for Excellence in Rail Training Pty Ltd (CERT).
According to the ONRSR, it has made been aware of rail safety workers who obtained safeworking accreditations after presenting manipulated and tampered practical logbooks to falsely indicate that they completed practical training.
"Examples have also been uncovered whereby students have deemed competent without having had to take required on-job practical training," the office said in its safety alert.
Internal training launched
In response to the safety alert, CERT confirmed that there were incidents of compromised workbook evidence of on-job training supplied to CERT following an internal review.
"Compromised evidence has been isolated to workbooks completed whilst in the employment of a single company up to the 20th November 2023," CERT said in a statement on its website.
"All impacted Safeworkers, and affected rail operators, have been notified."
It added that a "limited number of students" who undertook the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ATRC) Safeworking Training in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia had their certifications reversed due to compromised evidence.
Meanwhile, the ONRSR advised all rail transport operators to check if any safety critical workers from Skilled Rail Services, or accredited by CERT will be working for them.
"If so, it is suggested you verify that the competencies of such workers are valid and take appropriate action if anomalies are discovered," the ONRSR said.
