Trial of new in-vehicle fatigue detection system is helping Toll reduce the risk of fatigue in its operations
By Brad Gardner | October 9, 2012
A trial of a new in-vehicle fatigue detection system is helping Toll reduce its exposure to the risk of fatigue in its operations.
The company says it is currently trialling technology in its fleet that alerts drivers of imminent eye closure or micro-sleep events.
The trial is part of a suite of occupational health and safety initiatives the company is working on to prevent workplace incidents.
“Implementing this technology has helped reduce exposure to the risk of driver fatigue and has allowed our onsite operations to optimise crews and rostering to further reduce the risk of fatigue,” Toll says.
The company made the comments in its recently-released annual report, which outlines Toll’s efforts to reduce its lost time injury rate. Initiatives include focusing on driver education and training, establishing a dedicated safety sub-committee and bringing in ergonomics specialists to improve manual handling practices.
However, Toll says its businesses recorded eight employee and contractor fatalities during the the 2011-12 financial year.
“Five of these occurred within Toll workplaces but occurred due to circumstances outside the control of the Group,” the annual report says.
“Two of the work related fatalities involved motor vehicle incidents and the third related to an incident involving a contract surveyor who was conducting a tank inspection on one of our Marine Logistics barges in Indonesia.”
Toll says it provides its contractors with specific training programs on vehicle speed management and driver fatigue.
“GPS technology, combined with effective management systems, is helping us implement the same high safety standards for all drivers carrying goods on behalf of Toll,” it says.
