Recent advices received from National Heavy Vehicle Regulator may have an impact on some of our members who operate heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass. Details of announcement, upcoming information sessions in our region and link to NHVR webpage for additional information is as follows.

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM NATIONAL HEAVY VEHICLE REGULATOR

Changes to Chain of Responsibility

New Primary Duty laws in 2018

On 1 October 2018, the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) will be amended to provide that every party in the heavy vehicle transport supply chain has a duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities. In practical terms, this primary duty represents an obligation to eliminate or minimise potential harm or loss (risk) by doing all that is reasonably practicable to ensure safety. As a party in the supply chain, the best way to do this is to have safety management systems and controls in place, such as business practices, training, procedures and review processes that:

• identify, assess, evaluate, and control risk
• manage compliance with speed, fatigue, mass, dimension, loading and vehicle standards requirements through identified best practice
• involve regular reporting, including to executive officers
• document or record actions taken to manage safety.

Information sessions

The NHVR is holding more industry information sessions across the country to explain the changes to CoR, the impact on your business and how a Safety Management System can help you effectively manage your operation’s safety risks.

For further information – https://www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accreditation-compliance/chain-of-responsibility/changes-to-cor