In July 2024, the Construction Logistics and Community Safety Standard (CLOCS-A) was formally launched nationally.
This standard was written into the national Road Safety Action Plan and the action plans for New South Wales, Queensland and supported in principle in Victoria.
Why did this Safety Standard get such prominence in the Road Safety Action Plans? Basically, because it specifically focuses on the significant safety problems that exist involving the interaction between heavy construction trucks and vulnerable road users (VRUs).
VRU fatalities involving construction trucks is significant and not just for the pedestrian, bicycle and motor cyclists but also e-scooters riders, road construction workers, traffic management workers, and personal mobility device users, such as motorised wheelchairs.
The CLOCS-A construction safety standard in now being mandated in certain major state funded construction contracts in New South Wales.
Unless the construction transport operators and the construction companies’ own fleets and subcontractors, are accredited to the CLOCS-A standard, then do not tender for these contracts! It’s a powerful incentive to get CLOCS-A certified.
Other states’ major big build contracts, that may well be supplemented with federal funds, are heading down the CLOCS-A path. CLOCS-A accreditation will also eventually be required for local government construction transport fleets and their construction truck subcontractors.
Since July 2023, there has been a steady stream of industry webinars, industry articles, major workshops and newsletter releases advising the CLOCS-A juggernaut is coming. Industry so far has been very slow to respond which may be very unfortunate for securing future construction transport contracts.
The national CLOCS-A safety standard rollout was awarded to CILT-Australia (CILTA). Since that time a cutting edge auditor and certification registration system was developed which has allowed both auditor registration, driver VRU training and streamlined construction company certification to the CLOCS-A standard.
The certification to the CLOCS-A standard will be critical for construction transport companies. The next major industry workshop will be held in Parramatta on December 8.
This workshop will be a critical event for the heavy vehicle fleets and sub-contractor servicing the Australian construction industry.
Workshop details can be found here.