Pronunciation: [ˈatsb] (IPA) 
The acronym "ATSB" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /eɪ ti ɛs biː/. The first two letters, "A" and "T," are pronounced as the long vowel sound /eɪ/. The letter "S" is pronounced as the /ɛs/ sound, while the letter "B" is pronounced as /biː/. The ATSB, or Australian Transport Safety Bureau, is an organization responsible for investigating aviation, rail, and maritime accidents and incidents in Australia.
ATSB stands for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. It is an independent Commonwealth Government statutory agency created under the Australian Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003. The ATSB is responsible for conducting and initiating investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Australia, with the aim of enhancing transport safety within the country.
The ATSB's primary role is to investigate and report on transport accidents and incidents, specifically focusing on aviation, marine, and rail occurrences. These investigations are conducted with the objective of preventing future accidents and improving safety in the transport industry. The ATSB investigates a wide range of incidents, including collisions, crashes, groundings, derailments, and accidents involving both commercial and recreational vehicles.
The bureau operates under a "no-blame" or "just culture" approach, meaning its primary focus is on identifying factors and circumstances that may have contributed to an accident rather than assigning blame or liability. Through using this approach, the ATSB aims to identify systemic issues, human factors, or technical failures that could be addressed to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
The ATSB's investigations are guided by internationally recognized standards, and its findings and recommendations are published in publicly accessible reports. These reports aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the accident or incident, including the immediate causes, contributing factors, safety issues, and any safety recommendations for industry stakeholders. Overall, the ATSB plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and integrity of Australia's transport systems through effective accident investigation and robust safety recommendations.
