Penalties said to reflect chain of responsibility changes: NSW Police
New South Wales Police reports a driver, consignor and transport company were recently penalised for offences relating to the transportation of dangerous goods in August.
The combination is said to have carried 36 pallets of various types of aerosol cans and dangerous goods weighing 32,020kg.
Issues related to the load, dangerous goods placarding, transport documentation and work diary, with fines totalling nearly $22,000.
A 55-year-old male was charged with offences relating to: making a false work diary entry; not recording information after starting work; not complying with authorisation while driving a class two vehicle; detaching a trailer containing a placard load of dangerous goods not in accordance with code; and a substantial breach of driving a heavy vehicle and not complying loading requirements.
He was fined $2,500 in total by the Windsor Local Court on September 19.
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However, more substantial penalties came the way of the companies involved in the transaction following an investigation by Hawkesbury Highway Patrol and the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
The transport company contracted to carry the dangerous goods was fined $8,000 for two penalties: employing a person for task without instruction or training ($4,000); and being a contractor transporting dangerous goods falsely/misleadingly placarded ($4,000).
The consignor was fined a total of $11,300 for:
- consigning goods without compliant transport documentation ($1,300)
- consigning goods for transport not restrained as per code ($2,000)
- employing a person for task without instruction or training ($4,000)
- consigning for the transport of dangerous goods not appropriately placarded ($4,000).
The penalties higher up the supply chain were noted on social media as reflecting recent changes to chain of responsibility rules, with numerous responses welcoming the prosecution of the companies and consignors rather than placing sole responsibility on the driver.