Rio Tinto employees have started the ARA’s new Safely Access the Rail Corridor course (SARC) this week, marking an important milestone in the harmonisation of competencies.  

The ARA, together with Western Australia heavy haul members Rio Tinto, BHP and Roy Hill, built the national, common SARC course to streamline training requirements for contractors entering the rail corridor.    

SARC is a unit of competency that everyone who enters any rail corridor in Australia is required to hold. Despite this, many companies still deliver their own bespoke courses.   

By having a common SARC, the three heavy haul companies will now only need to brief or train contractors on risks relevant to their rail corridor and the specific work to which the contractors have been assigned, rather than them having to undergo multiple courses to meet the needs of different RIMs.   

North Metro TAFE is delivering the SARC course, ensuring the highest levels of quality and reliability of course delivery.    

The ARA has made significant advances in the age-old problem of rail industry worker qualifications and competencies not being recognised from one RIM or operating company to another, which has impeded productivity for RIMs rail operators Mutual recognition, TAFE delivery and the engagement of all RIMs in an Australian state is a first for the industry.  

The ARA aims to have all the WA RIMs recognising a single SARC, which will reduce costs to both contractors and rail companies, support safety in the rail corridor and provide critical evidence across Australia of the benefits of mutual recognition of competence.