News

Making a noise for Rail RU OK?

Today, for the third year, BlueScope organised a symbolic tribute to the lives tragically lost on rail across the nation

by Jeremy Lasek

Published April 23, 2026

While most Australians mark RU OK? Day each year in September, those in the rail industry stop to commemorate the loss of lives on 23 April.

Today, for the third year, BlueScope organised a symbolic tribute to the lives tragically lost on rail across the nation.

RU OK? and TrackSAFE joined forces a decade ago to establish Rail RU OK?

More than just a day, Rail RU OK? is a year-round movement that aims to empower rail workers to identify the signs that someone might not be OK, and offer guidance on how to listen and how to help.

Wollongong-based Jakson Pavolvich, the NSW general manager of rail firm Watco, initiated the local Rail RU OK? tradition in 2023, after the tragic loss of two train drivers' lives in WA that year.

At midday on Thursday, BlueScope staff and rail workers gathered on the footbridge above the Cringila rail siding as six locomotives sounded their horns in a noisy tribute to those impacted by trauma on our railways and to send a message to the community that it's OK to have conversations about mental health.

BlueScope’s Michael Sopher is proud of 30 fatality-free years at Port Kembla.

Michael Sopher is BlueScope's national rail safety advisor, a role he's held for the past decade. He oversees about 3,000 rail movements in and out of the Port Kembla Steelworks each year, and has good reason to be proud of the safety record.

"Between 1940 and 1996 we had 29 rail fatalities here," Michael said. "Half of those involved shunters. I'm pleased to say we haven't had a single fatality since 1996. That's due to a combination of better procedures, technology and communications."

Michael said Rail RU OK? began in 2015 and the rail industry was the first across Australia to adopt its own RU OK Day? It has rapidly grown in numbers each year.

"In year one, around 7,000 people participated in the day. Last year, 120,000 people stopped to mark this special day," Michael said.

"When this all started in 2015, across Australia there had been 2,500 lives lost on our railways in the previous 25 years. Sadly, the majority of those were to suicide."

Michael said the impact of every death is felt by many people. "It is tough on the person sitting in the cabin who has absolutely no control over it. A lot of those drivers just don't return to the job."

Genevieve Nix says rail trauma has a ripple effect.

Genevieve Nix, from Pacific National Rail, which operates through Port Kembla, said train drivers aren't the only people impacted by traumatic incidents and fatalities. "There's also a ripple effect, where entire family units and communities can be impacted by such events."

RU OK? Day is held each year on the second Thursday in September, and the next RU OK? Day is on Thursday 10 September 2026.