The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has launched a new targeted operation focused on mechanical safety and compliance with mass, dimension and loading requirements for heavy vehicles currently operating in the construction industry.
NHVR chief operations officer Paul Salvati says the operation will commence this month and run for four weeks across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.
“Throughout the operation we will prioritise education in the first instance to ensure operators and drivers have a clear understanding of the risks associated with non-compliance during heavy vehicle transport activities in the construction industry,” Salvati says.
“Drivers and operators should always be practicing safe behaviours such as implementing a daily check list to ensure the mechanical safety of vehicles or utilising measuring devices, such as tape measures or height sticks, to confirm the vehicle and its load are within allowable dimensions.
“Managing safety risks can help prevent injuries and fatalities, avoid financial loss for the business, evade legal sanctions, enhance business reputation and create a culture where informed safety decisions are made.”
Salvati says last year’s construction focused operation saw more than 1,200 vehicles inspected by the NHVR’s on-road officers while signs of compliance were also shown.
“Overall, 56.4 per cent of heavy construction vehicles were compliant across all HVNL categories, with especially high compliance across mass and loading,” Salvati says.
“The results in the mechanical compliance category were indicative of the work we still have to do.
“Of the defective components identified, the most serious were in brakes, body and chassis, while others were found in lights and reflectors.”
Salvati says the regulator is urging all operators and drivers in the construction industry to keep safety at the front of their minds.
“Heavy vehicle hazards in the construction industry traditionally include loads not being properly restrained, vehicles exceeding mass or dimension limits and the mechanical safety of vehicles, especially heavy rigid truck, and trailer combinations,” Salvati says.
“These may seem like standard risks, but they are amplified, especially on a construction site, by time pressures, constant loading and unloading and the frequency of travel alongside other motorists on major roads and thoroughfares.”