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NHVR to reform NHVAS Business Rules and Standards

Accreditation documents periodically revised to reflect industry changes

 

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), which administers the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS), is undertaking consultation on proposed changes to its Business Rules and Standards.

The Business Rules and Standards documents outline the requirements for participation in the NHVAS and provide a framework for its governance, and are periodically revised to reflect industry changes.

For example, changes to chain of responsibility (COR) laws mean every party in the heavy vehicle transport supply chain has a duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities.

“Historically, the NHVAS Business Rules and Standards have been written in a way that meets with quality management system methodology,” the NHVR says.

“With operators having to address the risks that they have control and influence over, they will need to employ systems that align with a risk management approach.

“The introduction and implementation of risk management practices into the NHVAS Business Rules and Standards will see operators adopt an approach to business similar to the Safety Management Systems (SMS) ideology that will help meet some of their COR obligations.

“The proposed changes to the NHVAS Business Rules and Standards also include refinements that act as red tape reduction and create a more seamless transactional environment for scheme participants.”


NHVAS fees increased earlier this year. Read more, here


Some of the key proposed NHVAS reforms include:

• requirements for crash and incident reporting of major and significant events

• a register of infringements and defects notices received

• fit and proper person requirements as part of the assessment criteria

• Standard 1 of maintenance strengthened to now include tow couplings and drawbars.

NHVR’s consultation period closes on March 31. It will hold a number of information sessions in February-March to provide further opportunity for operators to discuss the changes and provide direct feedback.

Following consultation, the NHVR will prepare a summary of responses and revisions and will send the new Business Rules and Standards to its board for approval later in 2019.

Once approved, NHVAS participants will have a transitional period to allow opportunity for education and the necessary changes to the system.

More information on the reforms can be found here.

 

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