Two driver fatigue improvement notices reiterate the need to keep the roads safe
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) recently issued improvement notices to two companies to keep the roads safe for heavy vehicle users.
The NHVR announced it issued two improvement notices to separate companies last week, making them take corrective action and deliver activities such as formal training, audits and driver safe journey plans to prevent further breaches of NHVR rules.
An NHVR investigation found multiple work diary, work hours and fatigue issues, with both companies failing to provide adequate fatigue compliance training and appropriate scheduling for their employees.
The NHVR says immediate action must be taken by both companies to prevent them from putting their drivers and the community at risk in future.
“It was clear from the evidence that the conduct of both companies put road users at risk of harm,” NHVR director of investigations Steve Underwood says.
“An improvement notice enables the offenders to improve their safety and compliance systems quickly, with the NHVR monitoring the required notice activities to remedy the situation.”
An improvement notice is issued when it is believed that without immediate corrective action offences will continue to occur.
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Failing to comply with an improve notice can result in a maximum court-imposed penalty of $50,000 for a corporation.
The NHVR is intent on helping make transport operators as safe as possible when on the roads, with many different solutions available.
One such NHVR movement to make companies safer is the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, as the NHVR is urging operators to join over 8,100 other businesses in following the NHVAS.
According to the NHVR, the NHVAS helps operators gain a competitive edge regarding productivity gains and safety benefits.
“Whether you’re a business or a single-vehicle owner-operator, you can use the NHVAS as your pathway to safer transport activities, regardless of the business sector you’re operating in,” NHVR chief operations officer Paul Salvati says.
The NHVR says operators can also get productivity benefits from being NHVAS mass management accredited, which allows operators to carry more each trip and reduce the number of trips taken.
“If you’re a subcontractor with NHVAS membership, companies know they’re engaging someone with an auditable safety management system that makes their operations safer, and that you’re serious about meeting your primary duty requirements,” Salvati says.
Recent changes to the scheme include more safety management system activities so companies can remain safe and avoid improvement notices for driver fatigue management.