ATSB updates naming policy
19-Jun-2017 Naming organisations in reports
From 1 July 2017, the ATSB's policy will provide for identifying most organisations in its transport safety investigations. Most organisations directly involved in any aviation occurrence investigated by the ATSB after 1 July 2017 will be identified in the report and on the investigation web page.
Why is the ATSB updating its policy?
The change in policy will ensure ATSB's compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization's recommended practices. It will also ensure that the ATSB has a consistent and transparent approach across all of its aviation, rail and marine safety investigations.
Operators and other organisations can still be assured that it is not a function of the ATSB to apportion blame or determine liability. Including the name of the organisation does not imply any adverse inferences.
Which organisations will be identified after 1 July 2017?
For aviation, all operators and regulators will be identified.
For marine, all ship owners, ship management companies and the regulator will be identified.
For rail, rail transport operators (rail infrastructure managers and/or rolling stock operators) and regulators will be identified.
Other large organisations that contributed substantively to the occurrence will also be mentioned. The exception to the above policy will be where the operator is an individual or an individual's name is the company name. Consistent with the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003, the ATSB does not name individuals in its final reports.
Are there any exceptions?
If an operator or organisation had a passive or third-party involvement in an occurrence, the ATSB will not name that operator in the investigation report or published information.
Operators and other organisations will not be named in investigation report titles.
The policy change will only apply to safety occurrences investigated by the ATSB from 1 July 2017. Any incident or accident that occurred before 1 July 2017 will be treated under the current policy.
How will an organisation know if they're named?
The ATSB will continue to provide advance copies of its investigation reports to all organisations involved in a transport safety occurrence. This ensures organisations are aware of, and have the opportunity to provide feedback on, the report's contents before it is made public.
More information
Please call the ATSB on 1800 020 616 or email atsbinfo@atsb.gov.au