7. Contractor induction

About V/Line

V/Line Corporation is Victoria's largest regional passenger transport operator with a long history of serving its communities through rail and coach services. 

V/Line leases over 3400 km of the Victorian Regional Railway Network from the Director of Public Transport. Under the lease, V/Line is responsible for:

• maintenance of the railway and associated infrastructure
• management of access to the railway network
• the control of rail traffic (Train Control).

Under an Agreement, V/Line is responsible for:

• operating rail and coach services every week across regional Victoria
• a station network of more than 80 stations located throughout regional Victoria.
• a large fleet of rolling stock including VLocity 160 km per hour high speed diesel multiple unit trains
• delivering services at a level that meet the State’s requirements for punctuality and reliability.

Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values

Our Purpose

To provide a connected and bright future for Victorians.

Our Vision

A modern, high-performing railway and coach service for all.

Our Mission

Connecting Victoria by empowering our people to be their best. 

Our Values

• Respectful
• Be our best
• Accountable
• Integrity
• Be bold

1.1     Working with V/Line

V/Line is committed to providing and maintaining a work environment that is as safe as possible for its employees, contractors, customers and the community and minimising our impacts on the natural environment. To achieve this commitment V/Line expects contractors to ensure:

• All contractors are supervised and suitably trained.
• At risk behaviour and non-compliance is identified and rectified.
• Plant, equipment and tools are in fit condition and suitable for use.
• The workplace is maintained in a clean and tidy condition.
• All incidents and unsafe acts are reported and corrective actions are
• completed promptly.

V/Line is a key part of regional Victoria and is a strong supporter of the towns and
cities in which we live and work.

1.2     V/Line Obligations
V/Line is required by law to take all necessary actions to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees, contractors and visitors at the workplace.

1.3     Contractor Obligations
Contractors and their employee’s are subject to the relevant provisions of the OHS Act 2004, with particular regard to the Employers and Employee’s obligations. Prior to start of work, contractors must provide originals or certified copies of trade certificates, Certificates of Competency, qualifications, and Drivers Licence etc. as are required for the performance of their duties.
 
V/Line uses the RIW card system for all Rail Safety Work (RSW) to ensure that
contractor’s competencies align with the minimum safety and job role requirements.

• Contractors must ensure that all plant and equipment is safe and in good condition and is used in a manner which is safe and without risks to health and is authorised to operate in V/Lines worksites
• Ensuring that all contractors, sub-contractors and employees are appropriately qualified, trained and supervised in relation to any work they perform
• V/Line reserves the right to remove from its site any person who is found to be acting in a manner that is dangerous or offensive to V/Line employees, contractors, or members of the public, or in a manner which is likely to cause harm to the environment.

It is the contractors responsibility to ensure that work is risk assessed prior to commencement and a management plan addressing risk is submitted.

The risk assessment process is to include outdoor work, thermal comfort and fatigue and also to take into account the remote area that work may be undertaken in.
 
All activities undertaken by the contractor and their employees must be in accordance with the OHS Act, Rail Safety Act and relevant regulations.
 
All incidents and injuries must be reported to the Contractors V/Line contact person
 
No work is to commence until the appropriate track protection measures are in place
 
No equipment is to be placed on track without prior registration with V/Line and approval
 
It is V/Lines responsibility to supervise the activities of the Contractor undertaking work and, if necessary, suspend works until satisfied that risk has been adequately addressed.

1.4     Personal Conduct
Contractors are required to comply with V/Line’s Code of Conduct and maintain a high standard of personal conduct when on any V/Line worksite. Contractors are also required to:

• behave in a lawful manner and comply with any relevant legislative, industrial or administrative requirement
• demonstrate conduct that is professional and ethical at all times whilst at work and not bring V/Line into disrepute
• co-operate with and obey lawful requests, directions or instructions given in the course of work activity by any person having the authority to do so
• keep skills and knowledge up to date within their area of expertise
• report behaviour that breaches V/Line policy
• skylarking and throwing of objects will not be tolerated.

1.5     Site Access and Security

The contractor must ensure that his/her employees and sub-contractors entering
V/Line designated areas or premises acknowledge, accept and fulfil the following
requirements as a condition of entry:

• inform the V/Line contact or their representative of intended site entry / egress times and obtain authorisation before entry
• enter through the designated entry point and signing in and out where required
• remain in the designated area in which they are authorised to carry out work. Persons required to work outside the designated area should contact the V/Line contact to obtain clearance to extend the designated area
• leave all vehicles in the designated car parks or appropriate locations clear of access ways, unless they are transporting goods or equipment
• Alert their V/Line contact immediately upon becoming aware of a risk to health and safety.
• Address any security issues raised by V/Line immediately and fully.

1.6     Rail Safety

The railway environment poses specific hazards such as those created by the high voltage overhead catenary traction system, high voltage overhead wiring, rail traction return system, signalling system, permanent way, remote control of track equipment and the size, speed and momentum of railway locomotives and rolling stock. Work must be protected in accordance with the Book of Rules and Operating Procedures 1994, and the directions of V/Line.
 
Refer to Section 15 of the 1994 Book of Rules if you are undertaking rail maintenance work or activities in the rail environment.
 
High Visibility clothing must be of the colour ‘Special Purpose Orange’ that meets AS4602-1999.
(No other colour of Hi-Vis is acceptable in the rail corridor)
 
Red or green coloured clothing, which may be mistaken by a train driver for a hand signal, must not be worn.
 
Note: The wearing of high visibility garments with the cross configuration of the retro reflective stripes on the rear of the garment are not permitted to be worn unless you are undertaking shunting related duties in rail yards or emergency recovery at accident scenes.
 

2.1     Workplace health & safety acts
V/Line conducts its business so as to comply with the Rail Safety Act 2006, the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004, and other relevant statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the State in which rail maintenance operations are conducted (NSW and Victoria).
 
2.2     Rail safety worker health & fitness
All persons likely to be carrying out rail safety work are required to undergo a pre-employment
medical/physical examination and then periodic re-examinations to ensure they remain fit to continue the work. Compliance with this requirement for contractors is managed via the Rail Industry Worker Card system.
 

• Contractors must not be fatigued when they attend work for V/Line. Fatigue can be acute or chronic tiredness that may affect performance, safety and health, and requires rest or sleep for recovery. Where fatigue has been identified as a hazard through the risk assessment process a fatigue management plan shall be implemented per the requirements in the rail safety and OHS legislation.

 
2.3     Alcohol and other drugs
Under V/Line policies, all forms of alcohol and non-prescription drugs are banned substances on any rail maintenance worksite.
 

• All employees and contractors engaged in rail safety work are subject to the V/Line alcohol and drug free workplace policy and associated procedures. Reporting for work under the influence of alcohol or any drug likely to cause impairment (including illegal/illicit drugs or prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medications) is considered to be a serious breach by V/Line and may result in dismissal or termination of contract.

• It is also an offence under the Rail safety legislation, the transport act and, in extreme circumstances, may result in prosecution. V/Line undertakes random testing at all worksites. Individuals must undergo random testing for drugs and/or alcohol when requested.

3.1     Caring for the environment

V/Line requires contractors to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their work. Contractors must identify and monitor environmental issues relating to worksite operations. They must comply with all environmental legislation including Acts, Regulations and Codes of Environmental Practice.
 

• Use only the designated access tracks to move to and from trackside locations.
• Gates on properties must be left in exactly the same way they were found (i.e., leave open if open, or closed if closed)
• Biosites (sites of biodiversity significance) must not be entered without permission. Some but not all of these areas are fenced and marked with signs identifying the area as significant for protection of native vegetation. A V/Line representative is to be consulted if there is any doubt.
• Endangered Plants/Weeds – V/Line Site Managers/Supervisors will determine if any endangered plant and/or weed species are likely to be encountered within the worksite area and advise the affected work groups about appropriate conservation actions. If you suspect a plant to be an endangered or weed species, talk to your V/Line contact.  
• All vehicles are to be kept in a clean state as much as possible. All vehicles should be inspected at the end of every day and washed down if required.
• Contractors shall not occupy the channel of any stream with equipment without prior approval. If there is the requirement to make any alterations to watercourses or have any equipment in any stream, it must be in compliance with all Acts and Regulations of the State. All necessary permits/licences for the planned work are to be obtained before commencing operations.

 
3.2     Environmental Management
All contractors are responsible for identifying and monitoring environmental issues relating to worksite operations and complying with environmental legislation (Acts & Regulations, and codes of environmental practice).
 

• Codes of environmental practice provide guidelines aimed at minimising and where possible, avoiding environmental impacts associated with activities and infrastructure maintenance  operations in the area.
• Where specifically required by contract or where there is a legislative requirement, contractors shall in conjunction with V/Line, produce specific environmental aspects and impacts registers or risk assessments and, as required by procedures, produce a site specific environmental management program.
• All environmental incidents are to be reported to the V/Line contact immediately as it may be necessary to report it to a regulatory authority

Emergency Response

As most of V/Line’s track and infrastructure is located in Regional Victoria, Contractors must
ensure that their planning takes into account how they will respond to an emergency. This must
be taken into account when risk assessing prior to work commencing.  Some items to consider:
 

•  Personal health issues and how to respond
•  People working alone
•  Inclement weather conditions, high wind, falling trees, extreme heat or flood
•  Snake bites
•  Motor Vehicle accidents