Use this search facility to find a local Authorised Health Professional (AHP). Note that some AHP’s will take advantage of the direct upload capability, enabling them to speed up the process by loading medical results directly into the RIW System.

Practice name

Doctor name

Postcode

Country/State

Download full list of Authorised Health Professionals

Practice name	Doctor’s name	Suburb/City	Category	Direct Upload

AHP scheme for the Rail Industry

The AHP scheme provides a low maintenance and easily accessible directory of participating Authorised Health Professionals. Workers who require a medical assessment can search the RIW website for their closest participating AHP, who can conduct a medical examination that will be accepted by participating RIW organisations.

The AHP scheme is non-mandatory, but has been created to provide national consistency and transferability across the rail industry by the Australasian Railway Association and Rail Industry Safety Standards Board (RISSB). It is the responsibility of the Network Operator to appoint and manage delegated Authorised Health Professionals and Chief Medical Officers.

Only those AHP’s who have completed training and assessment as delivered by a recognised AHP trainer, will be displayed in the AHP list.

To become an RIW Program registered AHP, click here.

National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers

Network Operators have a responsibility to minimise risks and protect the safety of the public, workers and the environment. Rail operators endorse selected doctors and health professionals to undertake medical assessments. All health assessments for rail safety workers are conducted in line with the current edition of the National Standard.

The National Standard was developed in consultation with industry, rail unions, rail safety regulators and health professionals to provide practical guidance for rail transport operators for managing the risks posed by the ill health of rail safety workers.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) reviews the National Standard every three years. The 2017 Standard came into effect on 1 February 2017 and applies to all rail transport operators and to all rail safety workers in Australia.

AHP Training

The National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers provides guidance for rail transport operators to meet their legislative obligations in managing the risks posed by the ill-health of rail safety workers. That guidance includes the selection and management of health professionals who carry out health assessments on behalf of those operators; referred to as Authorised Health Professionals (AHP’s).

While the responsibility for selection and management of AHP’s rests with a rail transport operator, a number of organisations are working together to establish a non-mandatory scheme to help embed the standard within the industry. The Rail Industry Safety Standards Board (RISSB) and the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), with the support of a cross-industry group of Chief Medical Officers (CMO’s), are supporting the standard as a consistent approach to managing the health of rail workers across Australia.

RISSB works with CMO’s to develop and maintain a set of training materials to ensure that AHP’s are trained to the standard, while the ARA captures the details of trained AHP’s within the RIW Program. The training program is considered best practice by the consulted Chief Medical Officers, even though it does not represent an official unit of competency or lead to a formal qualification.

For more information email info@riw.net.au or contact the RIW Program Service Desk on 1300 101 682.

Training to the National Standard for Category 1, 2 and 3 rail medicals is run periodically around Australia. Please refer to the training calendar for the sessions available to attend, or contact one of the Chief Medical Officer Trainers below.

Name	Company	Location	Contacts
Keith ADAM	Sonic HealthPlus Brisbane CBD	QLD Brisbane 4000	Keith.Adam@sonichealthplus.com.au 1300 588 440
Armand CASOLIN	Sydney Trains	NSW Sydney 2000	Armand.Casolin@transport.nsw.gov.au 02 8575 0495
Graeme EDWARDS	Kinnect (ARTC CMO)	QLD Brisbane 4102	graeme.edwards@kinnect.com.au 1300 546 632
Tim DREW	Jobfit	SA Wayville 5034	Tim.Drew@jobfit.com.au 08 8177 6800
David JONES	Sonic HealthPlus Brisbane CBD	QLD Brisbane 4000	David.Jones@sonichealthplus.com.au 07 3055 5971
Maria MAZAHERI	Aurizon	QLD Brisbane 4000	maria.mazaheri@aurizon.com.au 07 3019 1818
Rob McCARTNEY	Resile	QLD Hamilton 4007 VIC Melbourne 3000	robmccartney@resile.com.au Hamilton 07 3339 6000 or Melbourne 03 9453 2834
Mark SPEARPOINT	Sonic HealthPlus Hobart	TAS Hobart 7000	Mark.Spearpoint@sonichealthplus.com.au 03 6281 4000
Joel SILBERT	OSHGroup	WA Wembley 6913	jsilbert@oshgroup.com.au 08 6298 8400
June SIM	Southbank Central	WA South Perth 6151	junesim@iinet.net.au 08 9367 2800
Stuart TURNBULL	Sonic HealthPlus Flagstaff	VIC Melbourne 3000	Stuart.Turnbull@sonichealthplus.com.au 03 9224 8398
Thang VUONG	Corporate Health Group Pty Ltd	SA Mile End 5031	tvuong@chg.net.au 08 8354 9800
Chris WALLS	KiwiRail	NZ Auckland 1351	cwalls@omspecialists.co.nz +64 9 524 4137
Craig WHITE	Sonic HealthPlus Perth Airport	WA Perth Airport 6105	Craig.White@sonichealthplus.com.au 08 9230 0200

AHP Registration Process

Authorised Health Professionals must meet specific selection criteria which focus on the health professional’s knowledge and understanding of the rail occupational environment. To register:

Step 1 – Talk with the relevant rail Network Operator in your state.

Step 2 – Book in and attend training with an authorised Chief Medical Officer.

Step 3 – Complete the new online E-Learning assessment. The authorised Chief Medical Officer (AHP Trainer) during training will take your first name, surname and email address and provide it to the RIW Service Desk for E-Learning enrolment. Your E-Learning link will be emailed to you.

Step 4 –Once the online assessment has been completed, fill in the AHP Registration/Login/Delete/Update Details Service Request at https://www.riw.net.au/contact-us/request-a-service/ with your clinic name and contact details, which will be used to update the AHP Master list. This is done weekly.

Step 5 – Watch our Video System Walk though for Authorised Health Professionals or refer to our AHP Knowledge Centre for instructions on how to use the RIW System.

Partners of the AHP Scheme

Australasian Railway Association

The ARA is the peak body for rail in Australia and New Zealand, representing all sectors of the rail industry. The ARA owns the Rail Industry Worker Program (RIW), working with the program service provider Metro Trains Australia (MTA). The ARA oversees the national list of endorsed Authorised Health Professionals.

http://ara.net.au/

Rail Industry Safety Standards Board

The Rail Industry Safety Standards Board (RISSB) works with industry to provide training materials to ensure that medical professionals are trained against the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers.

http://www.rissb.com.au

Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) is an independent body corporate established under Rail Safety National Law. The primary objectives of ONRSR are to encourage and enforce safe railway operations and promote and improve national rail safety. ONRSR states that rail transport operators must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers must be of sufficient health and fitness to carry out work safely. ONRSR reminds industry that it is the responsibility of the rail transport operator to determine whether a health professional is qualified to conduct rail safety worker health assessments.

http://www.onrsr.com.au/

National Transport Committee

The NTC is an independent advisory body that provides quality, impartial advice and national land transport reform proposals to government through the Transport and Infrastructure Council. The NTC reviews the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers every three years.

http://www.ntc.gov.au/

System Access Rules

RIW System Access Rules for Medical Providers

The Rail Industry Worker (RIW) Program provides an online competency and safety management system for Australian rail workers and operators (RIW System). The RIW System is owned and endorsed by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and operated by Metro Trains Australia Pty Ltd (MTA).

These Rules set out terms and conditions that apply to use of the RIW System by:

Authorised Health Professionals (AHPs); and
Rail transport operators and other organisations that are authorised participants in the RIW Program (RIW Participants) who hold an AHP user permission to access the RIW System,

(collectively Medical Provider Users).

Medical Provider Users are granted access to the RIW System for the purpose of accessing or uploading rail safety worker health assessments and drug and alcohol assessments about RIWs in the RIW System to demonstrate fitness for work as required by the RIW Program and the National Transport’s Commission National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers – 2017 edition or any replacement edition (Standard) (Permitted Purpose).

Medical Provider Users and RIW Participants must comply with these Rules, including to protect information stored on the RIW System (RIW Information). Medical Provider Users and RIW Participants will be responsible for ensuring that each user who accesses the RIW System on their behalf complies with these Rules. Without limitation such Medical Provider Users and RIW Participants must:

Implement, practices, procedures and systems to ensure that their authorised users comply with these Rules (including by revoking access to the RIW System in the event of a breach);
Regularly monitor and assess privacy and security measures in place regarding access to and use of the RIW System by their authorised users; and
On at least an annual basis, audit compliance with these Rules by their authorised users.

All actions taken by users of the RIW System are logged and will be subject to audit to ensure compliance with these Rules and other terms and conditions that apply to the RIW Program. In addition, Medical Provider Users who upload health assessments to the RIW System are subject to audit by the Chief Medical Officer of the relevant rail transport operator (Chief Medical Officer), MTA and the RIW Service Desk for quality assurance.

By accessing, logging on to or using the RIW System you agree to be bound by the terms set out below. If you do not agree to these terms, please log out of the RIW System immediately.

You must:

Security of the RIW System

Keep your user login and password confidential and not share your user login or password with any other person (you will be responsible for any action on the RIW System using your login); [1]
Not use the user login and password of another user;
Ensure your user profile includes your full name and a specific email address for reporting purposes, rather than a generic name or email address (e.g. AHP Admin1);
Ensure the physical security of the devices you use to access the RIW System at all times, especially if you are using a laptop or other portable device;
If any device you use to access the RIW System is affected by any network or security concerns, including suspected virus activity or any network security bypass, disconnect that device from the RIW System until the issue is resolved;

Confidentiality and use of RIW Information

Use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect RIW Information against misuse, interference and loss and against unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure;
Keep all RIW Information confidential at all times and not use RIW Information for any other purpose other than the Permitted Purpose or as required by any laws or regulations;
Not copy, remove, store, use, or disclose RIW Information outside the RIW System, except for the Permitted Purpose or as required by any laws or regulations;

Information Quality

Take reasonable steps to ensure that any information you enter or upload to the RIW System is accurate, complete, up-to-date, relevant and is not false or misleading;
Not intentionally or recklessly enter or upload new RIW Information that is, or alter or delete existing RIW Information so that it becomes, inaccurate, incomplete, out-of-date, irrelevant, false, or misleading;
Promptly notify the RIW Service Desk if you become aware that any information in the RIW System is inaccurate, incomplete, out-of-date, irrelevant, false or misleading;

Rail Safety Worker Health Assessment and Drug & Alcohol Assessment Requirements

Comply with the Standard and ensure that all rail safety worker health assessments and drug and alcohol assessments for RIWs are conducted in accordance with the Standard;
Advise the RIW prior to undertaking the rail safety worker health assessment or drug and alcohol assessment that the assessment reports will be uploaded to the RIW System;
Only upload rail safety worker health assessment or drug and alcohol assessment reports to the RIW System as follows:
1. If you are an AHP, assessments that you have issued in your capacity as an AHP; or
2. If you are a Medical Provider User who is not an AHP, assessments for your RIW Participant’s Primary and Associated Employees;
Comply with all instructions and complete all mandatory information identified in the RIW System for the purposes of entering a new rail safety worker health assessment or drug and alcohol assessment;
Comply with the Health Assessment Business Rules (which can be found here) for rail safety worker health assessments and ensure that the evidence complies with the requirements set out in the Standard for the health assessment for the relevant worker category that has been requested;
In completing the electronic National Fit Slip for a Health Assessment Report, ensure that:
1. The date of the rail safety worker health assessment examination is listed as the assessment date in the RIW System;
2. The expiry date of the rail safety worker health assessment is in accordance with the assessment requirements for the relevant work category set out in the Standard (with the exception of the category 4 workers, the RIW System will automatically calculate the assessment expiry date based on the RIW’s date of birth and the assessment examination date entered (as defined here)); and
3. The worker category selected reflects the rail safety worker health assessment that you have performed;
Ensure that all relevant documents related to the rail safety worker health assessment are uploaded to the RIW System, including that the assessment anddrug and alcohol test results are uploaded in the respective areas on the RIW System;[2]
Ensure that the rail safety worker health assessment report is kept confidential and released only as required to the RIW, the RIW’s supervisor and the rail transport operator’s AHP, unless you have obtained the specific written consent of the RIW to disclose the report to any other person;
Ensure that no medical information is recorded on the National Fit Slip for a Health Assessment Report apart from the drug and alcohol test result;
If it is appropriate to specify one or more Work Restrictions, ensure that you tick the relevant checkbox(es) (if Must Be Accompanied is ticked, you will be prompted “Have you discussed with your CMO?”, which is a prompt for you to contact the Chief Medical Officer to discuss if any notes are required to be included with the Work Restriction);[3]
Only complete an RIW service request ‘AHP Request to Delete Medical File’, if a rail safety worker health assessment has been uploaded in error;
Not complete an RIW service request ‘AHP Request to Delete Medical File’ at the request of an RIW or RIW Participant unless the request is to deal with a rail safety worker health assessment that has been uploaded in error;
Complete all rail safety worker health assessments on the National Fit Slip for a Health Assessment Report and Triggered Health Assessment which can be found here (this form replaces Part B of the Request and Report Form (Fit Slip), which was returned to the rail transport operator);

Compliance management

Promptly notify the RIW Service Desk of any breach or suspected breach of these terms or if you become aware of or suspect any data breach or unauthorised disclosure or access in respect of any RIW Information and provide all reasonable information, updates and assistance to assist the RIW Service Desk and MTA in respect of investigating, assessing, reporting and remediating the incident;
Comply with any additional instruction or direction given by MTA in relation to your access to or use of the RIW System, including to ensure that action items arising from audits conducted by the Chief Medical Officer, MTA or RIW Service Desk are completed and closed by the due date;
If you are an AHP, not perform any other services in connection with the RIW Program other than undertaking and uploading rail safety worker health assessments and drug and alcohol assessments for RIWs (for example, you must not use the RIW System for offering services such as completing identification checks for RIWs or ordering RIW cards for RIWs);
Indemnify MTA for any costs and expenses incurred by MTA in investigating and remedying any breach of these terms (including costs and expenses incurred by MTA in the restoration of any affected RIW Information, which for the avoidance of doubt, would include any RIW Information that has been deleted, misrepresented or falsified);

Rules Review and Amendment

MTA, the ARA and Chief Medical Officers Council (CMOC) may review these terms and in the event that any changes to these terms are proposed by MTA, the ARA and CMOC, then MTA will notify all AHPs, Medical Provider Users and RIW Participants 30 days prior to the change taking effect.

Declaration

I agree to these terms as a condition of my participation in the RIW Program. I understand that MTA, the ARA or the Chief Medical Officer may suspend, block or revoke my access to the RIW System if I fail to comply with these terms.

[1] To update AHP details regarding the clinic, logins and registration please see the RIW Service Request for ‘AHP Management’ and select the relevant sub-category.

[2] The health assessment will not be valid until the relevant documents have been uploaded in the RIW System. Until then, any previous health assessment will apply when determining the RIW’s competency or role validity.

[3] The list of Work Restrictions can be updated after submission if required by contacting the RIW Service Desk on info@riw.net.au.

Update

Update on the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers

Welcome to the first edition of the Authorised Health Professionals newsletter, a periodic communication developed in partnership with the Chief Medical Officers Council to support AHPs registered in the Rail Industry Worker Program.

Update on the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers

All health assessments of rail safety workers in Australia are conducted in line with the third edition (2017) of the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers. The National Transport Commission will commence a review of this edition in 2022, with the fourth edition expected to be published in early 2023.

All existing AHPs who undertook training or re-training in the third edition will continue to remain authorised until the new National Standard is published. It is not necessary to attend retraining in this edition, even if your current certificate expires prior to 2023.

It is envisaged that retraining sessions will be scheduled in early 2023 in conjunction with the release of the fourth edition. Further details of retraining sessions will be made available closer to the date.

Providing assurance that the National Standard is adopted

The Chief Medical Officers Council (CMOC) undertake audits to provide both the Council and Network Operators with the assurance that the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers has been applied by participating Authorised Health Professionals (AHPs).

Audits are completed by the Chief Medical Officer for the respective Network where the AHP is providing health assessment services. Audits are conducted as follows:

Routine / planned;
Triggered (for example, due to performance concerns); or
Random, as part of a quality control process.

Note: Where an AHP disputes the findings of an audit, a panel of two external Chief Medical Officers will undertake a review of the audit.

Introduction of new National Fit Slips (Part B)

A review was recently completed into the various fit slips used across the country, the challenges these presented to AHP’s and the inconsistent quality of data gathered by the RIW Service Desk. The outcome was that industry would benefit from a national, harmonised approach to improve the medical outcome.

As a result, two new forms have been introduced for use with the RIW Program. Both forms are available online at the below links:

Health Assessment Report for pre-employment, periodic and change of category, and
Triggered Health Assessment Report

While both forms have had some improvements, the new Triggered Health Assessment Report now includes the important field to capture the last periodic medical. This date is critical in setting the correct medical assessment expiry in the RIW System.

Note: The RIW Service Desk has been instructed to continue to accept old fits slips for a period of 3 months (until 31 August 2021), after which time all rail safety medicals must be completed on either of the above forms. These forms only replace the Part B. TfNSW will continue to use separate forms for their employees.

AHP Registration Update

The Authorised Health Professional registration process has recently been updated to better support industry. These improvements include:

A National AHP Training Calendar is now available on the RIW website, including booking instructions and contact details for the respective Chief Medical Officer trainer.
The AHP assessment is now conducted online via E-Learning on the RIW System.
The Terms of Reference has now been replaced by an electronic acceptance built into the AHP E-Learning Assessment, which forms part of an AHP registration.

We are here to help

To support AHPs we have developed an Authorised Health Professional Knowledge Centre which contains videos and instructions about how to use the RIW System for medical and drug & alcohol assessments.

If you can’t find the answer to your question from our Knowledge Centre, the RIW Service Desk is always there to help. You can contact them on 1300 101 682 or info@riw.net.au.

Are your details up to date?

The AHP Master List on the RIW website provides industry with a search facility to locate an Authorised Health Professional (AHP). If your details aren’t up to date, please fill in the AHP Registration/Login/Delete/Update Details Service Request to let us know of any amendments.

News

An update from RIW and the Chief Medical Officers Council

Update on the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers

Providing assurance that the National Standard is adopted

Audits are completed by the Chief Medical Officer for the respective Network where the AHP is providing health assessment services. Audits are conducted as follows:

Routine / planned;
Triggered (for example, due to performance concerns); or
Random, as part of a quality control process.

Note: Where an AHP disputes the findings of an audit, a panel of two external Chief Medical Officers will undertake a review of the audit.

Introduction of new National Fit Slips (Part B)

As a result, two new forms have been introduced for use with the RIW Program. Both forms are available online at the below links:

Health Assessment Report for pre-employment, periodic and change of category, and
Triggered Health Assessment Report

AHP Registration Update

The Authorised Health Professional registration process has recently been updated to better support industry. These improvements include:

A National AHP Training Calendar is now available on the RIW website, including booking instructions and contact details for the respective Chief Medical Officer trainer.
The AHP assessment is now conducted online via E-Learning on the RIW System.
The Terms of Reference has now been replaced by an electronic acceptance built into the AHP E-Learning Assessment, which forms part of an AHP registration.

We are here to help

To support AHPs we have developed an Authorised Health Professional Knowledge Centre which contains videos and instructions about how to use the RIW System for medical and drug & alcohol assessments.

If you can’t find the answer to your question from our Knowledge Centre, the RIW Service Desk is always there to help. You can contact them on 1300 101 682 or info@riw.net.au.

Are your details up to date?

Newsletter 11

Employer Administrator Newsletter #11

The Rail Industry Worker Program (RIW) manages medical assessments for rail industry workers. We thought a timely refresher might be helpful for RIW employer administrators, so let’s clarify some of the key points…

WHY DO RAIL WORKERS NEED TO BE MEDICALLY ASSESSED?

The National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers underpins the system for monitoring the health of rail safety workers in Australia. The national standard enables a consistent application of health standards across the rail industry, ensuring that medical criteria reflect the latest knowledge of health conditions and the impact on safe working performance. The National Transport Commission (NTC) reviews the standard every three years. The 2017 Standard came into effect on 1 February 2017 and applies to all rail transport operators and rail safety workers in Australia.

Rail transport operators endorse selected doctors and health professionals to undertake medical assessments. All health assessments for rail safety workers are conducted in line with the current edition of the national standard.

Medicals Overview

How to upload a medical assessment

How to fast track a medical assessment

Amendments to the DPTI Operator Roles

ID Check System Improvements

HOW ARE RAIL SAFETY WORKERS CATEGORISED FOR RISK?

Categorisation is based on consideration of the key question, “For any aspect of the worker’s tasks, could action or inaction on the part of the worker lead directly to a serious incident affecting the public or the rail network?”

The response to this question leads to the definition of two main risk categories:

Safety Critical Worker

Category 1 workers are the highest level of Safety Critical Worker. These are workers who require high levels of attentiveness to their task and for whom sudden incapacity or collapse (e.g. from a heart attack or blackout) may result in a serious incident affecting the public or the rail network. Train driving is an example of a Category 1 task.
Category 2 workers also require high levels of attentiveness, however fail-safe mechanisms or the nature of their duties will ensure that sudden incapacity or collapse does not affect safety of the rail network. For example, in many cases signallers are classified as Category 2 because fail-safe signal control systems protect the safety of the rail network in case of worker incapacity.

Non-Safety Critical Worker

These are workers whose action or inaction will not lead directly to a serious incident affecting the public or the rail network. These workers require health assessments to ensure their own safety while working in or around the network.

Category 3 workers are also known as Around the Track Personnel (ATTP). These workers operate in an uncontrolled environment, so the worker may be at risk from moving rolling stock.
Category 4 workers are ATTP working in a controlled environment, which is a rail workplace where a risk assessment has been performed to identify hazards and implement controls to ensure that any person working in or transiting the area is not placed at risk from moving rolling stock so far as is reasonably practicable.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD A MEDICAL ASSESSMENT BE UNDERTAKEN?

A rail safety worker should receive the level of health assessment commensurate with their rail safety work risk category. Assessments generally comprise a health questionnaire and clinical examination, and in some instances further testing may be required, such as pathology, drug and alcohol or functional/practical tests. Rail safety workers will require a health assessment at pre-placement, before changing to a position involving tasks of a higher risk category, triggered (due to notification of a health problem that is likely to affect safety) or periodically according to the following defined frequencies:

Category 1 & 2 Safety Critical Workers

At time of commencement (pre-placement, as above)
every 5 years to age 50, then
every 2 years to age 60,
then every year.

Category 3 Non Safety Critical Workers

At time of commencement (pre-placement, as above), then
every 5 years from the age of 40 years.

HOW TO UPLOAD A MEDICAL ASSESSMENT

Some Authorised Heath Professionals (AHP’s) can directly upload the medical assessment to the RIW system. You can find a list of these AHP’s on the RIW website. If not using this service, Employer Administrators can submit an Upload Medical Certificate Service Request on the RIW website. Medical assessments are generally processed within 3 business days.

HOW TO FAST TRACK A MEDICAL ASSESSMENT

If a rail worker is required to go out on track sooner, you can elect to fast track the medical assessment (and any required competencies) for $55+GST. Fast track medicals will be processed within 8 business hours. Follow the instructions in the Quick Guide – Fast Track Medicals.

AMENDMENTS TO THE DPTI OPERATOR ROLES

As part of transitioning to the new RIW system, the Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) has simplified the ‘DPTI Operator – Contractor’ and ‘DPTI Operator – Employee’ roles by merging them into the one ‘DPTI Operator’ role.

In combining the roles, DPTI has worked with MTA to assign the new ‘DPTI Operator’ role to those that held the role ‘DPTI Operator – Contractor’ and move data across to this new simplified role. If you had evidence uploaded complying with DPTI’s Business Rules, no further action is required and the new ‘DPTI Operator’ role will be show on your RIW card and be valid.

If your ‘DPTI Operator’ role is appearing as invalid on your RIW card this means that either you have uploaded evidence that does not meet DPTI’s Business Rules or are missing required evidence. To find out more about what to do in this situation, please refer to Amendments to the DPTI Operator Roles – Does this affect you?

ID CHECK SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

We’ve recently made some updates to the ID check module to further improve overall performance of the RIW system. In summary the key updates include:

Workers can now update their own middle name at the ID check stage, if this is not entered by the Employer Administrator during registration. This will lessen the chance of an ID check rejection.
When an ID check is sent to a worker, the Employer Administrator will be copied in to the worker’s email.
We’ve increased the quality of the rejection details when an ID check is rejected. The full rejection reason will be emailed to the Employer Administrator, as well as displaying on the ID check menu on a worker’s profile.

A list of system updates is always accessible on the System Updates page on the RIW website.

To find out more information about the RIW Program, including self-paced training materials and FAQs, visit www.riw.net.au.

AHP Logins

The new RIW System enables participating Authorised Health Professional (AHPs) to upload rail safety health assessments, as well as drug and alcohol results, directly into the system. The user login that enables this capability is assigned to participating doctors, but can also be assigned to specific representatives nominated by network operators, top tier employers and RIW Service Desk.

AHP Logins

A summary of the process appears below…

Authorised Health Professionals (AHPs): AHPs can request the ability to upload rail safety health assessments, as well as drug and alcohol results, directly into the new RIW System by lodging a Service Request (AHP Registration Category). A list of AHPs can be found at www.riw.net.au (a tick appears next to those professionals with direct upload capability).

Network Operators and Top Tier Organisations: Network Operators and Top Tier paying participant organisations can, if desired, nominate specific individuals to upload rail safety health assessments, as well as drug and alcohol results. This can be accomplished by lodging a Service Request (AHP Login Category).

Card Holders and Smaller Employers: The RIW Service Desk can process the medical for you. The rail safety health assessments, as well as drug and alcohol results, should be scanned by the employer administrator and attached to a Service Request (Upload Medical Certificate Category) for verification against existing RIW business rules.

Metro Trains Australia Pty Ltd (“MTA”, “we”,”our” or “us”) ACN 614 061 960 is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals.

The protection of personal information in the private sector is required by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and, where applicable, State and Territory privacy laws (collectively the “Privacy Laws“) and we are bound to comply with these Privacy Laws as they apply to our business. All of our employees and officers are expected to comply with the Privacy Laws and our policies and procedures concerning the protection of personal information.

As used in this policy, the following definitions apply:

“Personal Information” means information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database and whether or not recorded in a material form) about an individual whose identity is apparent or who is reasonably identifiable; and
“RIW Participant” means rail operators and other organisations that are authorised participants in the RIW Program.

This policy deals with our management of personal information for the purposes of the Rail Industry Worker Program (RIW Program). The RIW Program provides an online competency and safety management system for Australian rail workers. It is owned and endorsed by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and operated by MTA.

For details of how we manage personal information for other aspects of our business, please see our general Privacy Policy on the MTA website.

This policy is based on the following principles:

Privacy of Personal Information is of paramount importance to us;
We will only use your Personal Information for purposes for which it was collected as set out in this policy; and
Your Personal Information will not be disclosed, other than in accordance with this policy without your permission or in accordance with the Privacy Laws.

What Personal Information do we collect?

For the RIW Program we may collect your name, gender, photo, date of birth, address, contact details, identification information (e.g. signatures, driver’s licence), health information (e.g. fitness for work assessments, medical records, and results of drug and alcohol tests), competency information (e.g. skills, credentials, registrations and qualifications), right to work details (e.g. visas and passports), work roles, site attendance timestamps, employment history, emergency contact and other personal information as required for the RIW Program.

How do we collect Personal Information?

MTA will collect information for the RIW Program when it is entered onto the RIW System by an authorised user. This may include information entered by you, your employer, an authorised health professional, registered training organisation, by one of our service team members on the instructions of an authorised user, by an authorised user where you are visiting that authorised user’s site, or by an automated Blood Alcohol Concentration Testing Unit integrated with the RIW System. We have also collected relevant personal information that was originally held by the previous operator of the RIW System, where that information is required for operation of the RIW Program. If you used the RIW System before 28 June 2019, then your information may be stored in the RIW System and will continue to be treated in accordance with the Permission Access Agreement (PAA), this policy and the Privacy Laws until it is deleted under our data retention policies.

If you provide us with the Personal Information of another person, including a visitor you have registered on the RIW System, we rely on you to inform that person and obtain their consent for the disclosure by you to us of their Personal Information.

Before creating an account for a new Rail Industry Worker (RIW) on the RIW System, each authorised user of the RIW System must ensure that the RIW has accepted the terms of a PAA prescribed by MTA. The PAA sets out further detail about the operation of the RIW Program.

The terms of the Permission Access Agreement can be viewed here: https://www.riw.net.au/permission-access-agreement/. Each authorised user of the RIW System must maintain a separate policy that sets out their approach to the management of Personal Information that they collect and enter into the RIW System. If you have any queries about the management of your Personal Information by an authorised user of the RIW System, please consult their relevant privacy policy.

We may, on behalf of RIW Participants, also conduct surveys through the RIW System and on the RIW website and associated mobile applications to collect certain social and diversity data (e.g. data about your gender, age, date of birth, whether you are currently completing an apprenticeship or traineeship, whether or not you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or were born overseas) as required for those RIW Participants to comply with workforce participation and diversity reporting requirements imposed by various government agencies.

Why do we collect and how do we use Personal Information

We collect and use Personal Information in order to manage and provide services in relation to the RIW Program. These purposes are set out in more detail in the PAA.

We will only disclose Personal Information that we collect for the RIW Program to:

The Australasian Railway Association;
RIW Participants may access the RIW System to search for RIWs, check and update RIWs details, and access additional details about RIWs who they employ or are otherwise associated with. Where you are employed or associated with an RIW Participant on the RIW System, you will be notified and provided with an opportunity to opt out of sharing of this information with the RIW Participant. The opt out notice will be sent to your email address registered in the RIW System. The principal contractor who is responsible for a worksite that you attend will also have access to your information stored on the RIW System;
Our contractors, agents and advisors helping us to manage and provide services in relation to the Rail Industry Worker Program;
Authorised health professionals;
Other entities as required or permitted by law, including rail safety, work/occupational health and safety and other relevant laws and to comply with workforce participation and diversity reporting requirements;
Other entities that are used by RIW Participants to verify competencies for pre-qualification of suppliers and workforce management;
Network operators for the purpose of reviewing RIWs who hold a rail corridor access job role for the network operator.

Personal Information will only be disclosed to these entities to the extent that those entities are entitled to access that information under the RIW Program. Such Personal Information may be shared directly through the RIW System or by another technical method, such as via a Secure File Transfer Protocol or via an API link that integrates with the RIW System.

Retention and Disposal of Information

We only keep Personal Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We will destroy such information or de-identify that information once sufficient time has elapsed to be certain that the information will no longer be required for those purposes for which it may be used under this Policy. We have in place data retention policies that govern the period of time we will retain personal information, and when that information may be destroyed or de-identified.

Sending Personal Information Overseas

We may disclose your Personal Information to third party service providers overseas, including in the UK and some other countries (for overseas identification verification services and limited support purposes) where they are not subject to similar laws to the Privacy Laws that apply in Australia. However, where your Personal Information is disclosed to our third party service providers who are located overseas, we will also take reasonable steps to ensure that the Personal Information is handled by the overseas recipient in accordance with the Privacy Laws and our instructions for the purposes described above. By providing MTA with your Personal Information or by being a user of or applicant for the RIW Program you consent to this disclosure of your Personal Information.

Email Security

Any email you send to us and information you submit through our websites may be scanned for IT security purposes.

RIW Website

When visiting the web site for the RIW Program, the site server makes a record of the visit and logs the following information for statistical and administrative purposes:

The user’s I.P. address – to consider the users who use the site regularly and tailor the site to their interests and requirements;
The date and time of the visit to the site – this is important for identifying the website’s busy times and ensuring maintenance on the site is conducted outside these periods;
Pages accessed and documents downloaded – this indicates to MTA which pages or documents are most important to users and also helps identify important information that may be difficult to find;
Duration of the visit – this indicates to us how interesting and informative the site is to our customers;
The type of browser used – this is important for browser specific coding;
In order to optimize the web site and better understand it’s usage, we collect the visiting domain name or IP address, Computer Operating System, Browser Type and Screen Resolution;
For authorised users of the RIW System accessing and using the RIW System by means of a login and password, all data access and data update activities are logged for audit purposes.

A cookie is a piece of information that an Internet web site sends to your browser when you access information at that site. Cookies are either session cookies or persistent cookies. Upon closing your browser the session cookie set by this web site is destroyed and no Personal Information is maintained which might identify you should you visit our web site at a later date. Persistent cookies may be retained across different browser sessions for this web site.

Security of Information

You should be aware that the internet is not a secure environment and information sent via the internet (including via email) may be intercepted by a third party. We use reasonable efforts to ensure that any Personal Information collected by us is held securely.

We strive to ensure the security, integrity and privacy of information we collect. MTA has established reasonable security measures to protect your Personal Information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure in contravention of this Policy. Our employees, contractors, agents and service providers who provide services related to our information systems, are obliged to respect the confidentiality of any Personal Information held by us. We review and update our security measures in light of current technologies.

You can access and update your Personal Information

Subject to certain exemptions provided for under the Privacy Laws, you have a right to access Personal Information we hold about you. We will also take reasonable steps to keep accurate and up to date any Personal Information which we hold about you. If you believe that the Personal Information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or no longer relevant please notify us via the contact details set out below.

If you would like to seek access to Personal Information that MTA may have about you or update that information then please contact the MTA Service Desk in the first instance or write to MTA’s Privacy Officer via the details set out below.

Questions and complaints

MTA is committed to providing its customers with a fair and responsible system for the handling and resolution of privacy related complaints. If you have any questions about this Policy or believe that we have at any time failed to keep one of our commitments to you to handle your Personal Information in the manner required by the Privacy Laws, then we ask that you contact us immediately in writing using the contact details provided below.

We will respond and advise whether we agree with your complaint or not. If we do not agree, we will provide reasons. If we do agree, we will advise what (if any) action we consider it appropriate to take in response. If you are still not satisfied after having contacted us and given us a reasonable time to respond, then we suggest that you contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by:

Phone: 1300 363 992 (local call cost, but calls from mobile and pay phones may incur higher charges). If calling from overseas (including Norfolk Island): +61 2 9284 9749

TTY: 1800 620 241 (this number is dedicated to the hearing impaired only, no voice calls)

TIS: Translating and Interpreting Service: 1 31 450 (If you don’t speak English or English is your second language and you need assistance and ask for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner)

Post: GPO Box 2999 Canberra ACT 2601

Fax: +61 2 9284 9666

Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au

Changes to this Privacy Policy

This statement sets out our current Privacy Policy for the RIW Program. This policy may change from time to time. The current version of the policy is available from https://www.riw.net.au/privacy-policy . The current version of our Privacy Policy replaces all previous versions of the policy.

Contact us for further information regarding our Privacy Policy

If you require further information about how we handle Personal Information or any privacy issues please contact our office on (03) 9610 2400 or write to our Privacy Officer at the address below.

Our Contact Details:

Catherine Speers
Privacy Officer
Metro Trains Australia Pty Ltd
GPO Box 1880
Melbourne VIC 3001
catherine.speers@metrotrainsau.com

Raymond O’Flaherty
Chief Executive Officer

Updated April 2023

Update

Update to RIW System User Access Rules for Medical Provider Users

Rail Industry Worker System Access Rules Update

Message for Authorised Health Professionals and Medical Provider Users

The System Access Rules govern your use of the RIW System, which you accepted when you first logged in to the RIW System. We wanted to let you know that the rules will be updated on 10 February 2022, and you will need to re-accept them when you next log into the system.

The new RIW System Access Rules for Medical Providers covers the way Authorised Health Professionals and Medical Provider Users can:

Maintain the security of the RIW System.
Ensure the confidentiality, quality and use of RIW information.
Meet the requirements of the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers.
Ensure compliance to the RIW Program, MTA and Chief Medical Officer instructions.

Please read the new rules carefully to ensure you understand your obligations when using the RIW System. Importantly, you must:

Keep your RIW System account credentials private and secure them with a strong password. You are responsible for all activity conducted under your credentials, which can be subject to audit for misuse at any time.
Ensure you only upload correct and up-to-date information and never remove, falsify, tamper, or alter RIW data to inhibit a worker’s ability to work.
Notify the RIW Service Desk immediately on 1300 101 682 or info@riw.net.au regarding any detected anomalies with RIW data.

If you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact the RIW Service Desk at info@riw.net.au or visit the RIW Knowledge Centre for more information.

COVID-19 Update

In response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the Rail Industry Worker (RIW) Program will provide updates where they apply to delivery of the RIW Program.

The Transport and Construction Industry are currently deemed essential services. This also extends to the operators, maintainers, constructors and suppliers who are critical in underpinning and supporting the rail industry.

The RIW program and its services are essential and remain committed to supporting the rail industry and rail industry workers during these uncertain times.

Whilst the RIW team is undertaking the necessary safe working measures to protect the health and wellbeing of staff as part of COVID-19 precautions, the RIW Service Desk will continue to operate at full capacity at this time. This includes 24/7 phone support, and delivery of competency verification and ticket support as per usual.

The RIW Program is working to align business rules with the measures and practices Operators are putting in place for their COVID-19 business continuity planning.

Impacts on the ability to undertake training or receive medicals for RIW cardholders

Rail Operators are currently undertaking a risk assessment of training requirements for competencies and rail medicals, in light of the limitations on face to face interaction and will advise if any business rules will need to be amended during this period.

We will keep you updated with any new changes as they come to hand.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) have advised their position regarding the ability of rail transport operators to meet normal regulatory requirements to ensure operations continue in a safe manner. Please refer to their fact sheet which details complying with medical standards and re-certification of competencies.

There is currently no legal provision for ONRSR to approve any exemption from the medical requirements of the National Transport Commission’s National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers. Because of concerns raised by industry in being able to comply with the requirements of section 114 of the Rail Safety National Law (RSNL), ONRSR has worked with State, Territory and Commonwealth Governments to reach a practical solution.

The initial exemptions have now lapsed in all states and territories, but please note that Victorian Government has gazetted a new exemption on 24 July, with conditions, to section 114 of the RSNL. Operators in Victoria can access the gazettal here.

This exemption only applies to periodic health assessments and will expire 3 months after the gazettal.

To stay up to date on all RIW news, please visit our News & Updates page.

Alert

Changing requirements for NSW rail construction workers

CHANGING REQUIREMENTS FOR NSW RAIL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

The NSW Government has eased restrictions on construction sites in south west and western Sydney from Wednesday 11 August, with enhanced COVIDsafe measures in place.

If you live in a local government area of concern, you may be able to access a priority vaccination this Sunday 15 August please read this update for further information.

We look forward to seeing more construction sites re-open under the new arrangements announced this week. It is important you take the time to make sure you are aware of the requirements to attend worksites before you return to work.

Different rules apply depending on where your work site is located, so you should ensure you are aware of how your location is affected, and check for updates regularly. If you live in a local government area of concern, you must comply with specific requirements in place for your location.

The current areas of concern in Greater Sydney are Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta and some suburbs of Penrith. If you are in regional NSW, areas of concern currently include Armidale, Newcastle and the Hunter region. You must follow the rules for each outlined here area.

Vaccinations

We encourage you to get vaccinated. When enough people in the community are vaccinated, it slows down the spread of disease and reduces the need for further preventive measures, such as border closures and travel restrictions. Vaccinations will reduce the health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and will help save lives and livelihoods.

Workers from the identified south-west and western Sydney LGAs will be nominated as authorised workers permitted to work on rail construction sites in Greater Sydney if they meet the following vaccination conditions:

you have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or
you have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least three weeks before attending work, or
you have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and, if less than three weeks since that vaccine was administered, a negative COVID-19 testin the previous 72 hours. Trials for rapid antigen testing are currently underway and will provide fast results once available

You can your COVID vaccination here or visit a NSW Health walk-in vaccination clinic offering COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccines to everyone aged 18 years and over with no appointment necessary.

The NSW Health Vaccination Centre at Sydney Olympic Park is providing vaccinations for construction workers in affected local government areas on Sunday 15 August 2021 from 7.30am 7pm.

The NSW Government has made 8000 priority appointments available for construction workers to support the industrys return to work. These appointments are only available for construction workers who live in Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Paramatta and the suburbs of Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.

If you are between 16 and 39 years of age you can book an appointment for a COMIRNATYTM Pfizer vaccine. You will need two doses of the vaccine at least 8 weeks apart.

If you are over 39 years of age you can book an appointment for an AstraZeneca vaccine. You will need two doses of the vaccine 4-6 weeks apart.

To book an appointment for this Sunday, use the following links and select construction worker in the drop down menu: