Operator investigated for alleged safety breaches claims “well being and safety of all our employees will never be compromised”
By Brad Gardner | February 23, 2012
The trucking company at the centre of a chain of responsibility investigation runs a range of safety schemes it claims puts it at the “forefront” of managing risks.
The website of Lennons Transport Services, which has been targeted in a joint police-government operation over alleged safety breaches, says the company is enrolled in the TruckSafe Industry Accreditation scheme and conducts driver training and health programmes.
While the owner of Lennons Transport is not commenting on an ongoing investigation into his company, the NSW-based carrier’s website also cites fatigue management, psychological profiling and vehicle monitoring as evidence of its “proactive” approach to safety.
“It is a policy of Lennons Transport Services that we will operate to ensure that the well being and safety of all our employees will never be compromised in the day-to-day operations of the business,” the website states.
“Our risk management program is at the forefront and the grass roots of our success and has already made significant contributions to our clientele in assisting them in their day-to-day operations.”
NSW Police says officers yesterday found falsified work diary entries and evidence of tampering with speed limiters on six trucks.
Individual truck drivers have been pulled over, with police charging one driver for possessing cannabis and breaking fatigue laws. Another driver was issued with a defect notice for brake wear and an infringement notice for not complying with oversize permits.
Police this week charged a Lennons driver with three counts of dangerous driving occasioning death. Police say the truck driver’s B-double crossed an embankment on the Hume Highway last month and hit a car head-on, killing the three occupants.
TruckSafe is an industry-based accreditation scheme run by the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and is based around improving the safety of trucking operators.
Operators enrolled in the scheme are required to meet a number of conditions, including ensuring vehicles are maintained, workplace and driver health policies are in place and drivers are properly trained.
“Companies in TruckSafe are twice as safe as non-accredited ones. They have responsible work practices, well maintained vehicles, healthy and trained drivers and management systems to meet their customers’ needs,” ATA and TruckSafe CEO Stuart St Clair says.
The website of Lennons says its vehicles are maintained and serviced by dealerships throughout Australia “as well as our own highly skilled mechanics”.
“All vehicles are maintained under a rigid service program, which ensures that safety and reliability levels are second to none,” it says.
The Roads and Maritime Services launched the chain of responsibility investigation, which will involve combing through company records.
Managing Director Tony Lennon has posted a statement on the company’s site.
“As this incident is under investigation by the Police, I am obviously unable to comment on the accident itself but I would like to express our deepest sympathy to the families involved in this very tragic accident,” the statement reads.
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