Technology only part of safety equation, not whole story, NTC boss says
Obtaining data via telematics is no silver bullet, a conference has been told.
National Transport Commission (NTC) CEO Paul Retter says operators need to get the most out of data and remember that technology is not the complete solution for safety and compliance.
Speaking at the Australian Logistics Council’s (ALC) Supply Chain and Compliance summit yesterday, Retter told attendees data needed to be used effectively to improve business process and to assist organisations in meeting their chain of responsibility obligations.
“Telematics allows businesses to monitor and understand issues and establish processes that support safe workplaces,” Retter says.
“A clear national policy on how telematics data will be used will provide businesses with confidence to invest in telematics.
“We need to develop an approach that will avoid picking applications one at a time.”
Achieving a standardised approach to data gathering, storage and use is critical, the conference was told.
Transport Certification Australia (TCA) CEO Chris Koniditsiotis says lowering entry barriers will encourage a greater interest.
“We need the strongest implemented privacy laws on the use of data – that is paramount,” Koniditsiotis says.
“This is not a government issue; it is as much a private sector issue.
“We need to regard the data in a manner which is seen in law as at the highest order and we believe it works very well because we haven’t had one complaint to privacy. We want to maintain that record.”
Toll Group road transport compliance group manager Sarah Jones believes cultural change is fundamental as people and systems underpin an organisation’s approach to chain of responsibility.
“One of the great benefits of technology is that it allows identifying patterns of behaviour,” Jones says.
“It is suggestive of high risk behaviours.
“Technology is a wonderful enabler however we need to be sensitive of interrelationships between technology and human beings.”
Photography: Brad Gardner