Hi-Rail Safety Alert

1. Issue 023
Hi-Rail Vehicles Safety Alert
Incident
A recent incident involving a Hi-
Rail Crane truck de-railment has
triggered a stark reminder that
operators must always complete
visual inspection on hi-rail
alignment, front and rear, when
resuming travel both forward and
reverse to establish safe operation
of the vehicle whilst on track. This
also serves as visual lookout for
obstructions to the hi-rail in the
direction that it is travelling.
The truck had undergone lifting
task using the crane attached to
vehicle whilst on track, the crane
had been set up and outriggers
deployed. When task of lifting 2 x
skip bins on the back of the truck
had been completed the crane was
packed up and the outriggers
withdrawn.
The operator then climbed into the
vehicle and with the assistance of
the PO piloting, proceeded
forward, after travelling
approximately 4 metres the front
Hi-Rail fell off track.
Immediate Action
A full engineering analysis was
conducted by a third-party engineer
on the Hi Rail inclusive of a crack
test report. The outcome of these
actions cleared the Hi Rail
assembly of any mechanical,
electrical or hydraulic damage.
Probable Causes
Using the outriggers of the vehicle
to stabilise the vehicle during the
operation of the crane may have
misaligned the Hi Rail from the
track.
Actions
Recommendations:
• When Hi-Rail is on track in a
stationary position and work is
carried out using the vehicle, it
is critical that the TMO operator
undertake a visual inspection of
both front and rear hi rail to
ensure that the hi rail is still
engaged to the track prior to
movement.
• Amend Safe Work Method
statement to include visual
inspection and inform all
operators of change
• Distribute to all operators
Visual Inspection of Hi- Rail
Engagement
Good Practice:
Bad Practice
Assuming the Hi-Rail is always
sitting on track and there are no
foreign objects in the way of Hi-
Rail Travel
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