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ATA wants industry representative on fatigue review panel

Panel tasked with reviewing AFM applications is mostly made up of academics.

 

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is being asked to rethink the make-up of the panel it appointed to review advanced fatigue management (AFM) applications.

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) says an industry representative with experience in AFM should join the five-member panel, which the NHVR unveiled yesterday.

Known as the fatigue expert reference group (FERG), the panel includes sleep and fatigue experts professors Drew Dawson, Phillipa Gander, Narelle Haworth and Ann Williamson.

National Transport Commission (NTC) deputy chair and commissioner Carolyn Walsh is chairing the FERG.

“Apart from Carolyn Walsh, the members of the reference group are all academic experts in sleep science. What the group also needs is an industry representative with experience operating under AFM who can provide them with real world input,” ATA CEO Stuart St Clair says.

He has welcomed the appointment of Walsh — who is also a commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) — and says she will bring enormous experience to the role.

“Carolyn has more than 25 years of experience in policy development, regulation and safety management, including 10 years of experience in the transport sector,” St Clair says.

“The ATA has long argued that the road transport sector needs to draw more on the safety expertise of the ATSB, which is recognised internationally as a leading safety investigator. Carolyn’s appointment as chair of the reference group is an important step in that direction.”

ATN has sought comment from the NHVR.

The FERG will be responsible for advising the NHVR on AFM applications and fatigue science.

Operators that lodge applications considered to be risky will be asked to present a safety case to the FERG to gain accreditation.

Trucking firms that already have AFM accreditation may also be referred to the FERG.

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