Vehicle-related incidents are responsible for the majority of workplace fatalities in Australia. The 2023-2033 Australian WHS Strategy is a Safe Work Australia initiative aimed at addressing the weaknesses across Australia’s workplace safety landscape and reducing the number of workplace-related injuries and illnesses. Since a vehicle used for work is considered a workplace, targeted actions in the transport sector are a key consideration.
A focus on the chain of responsibility
The heavy vehicle sector is an integral component of Australia’s connected transport system. However, the road transport industry faces many challenges when addressing safety and ensuring compliance with regulations. A central element of the WHS regulations in the road transport sector is the Chain of Responsibility (CoR). This describes the responsibilities of parties engaged in road transport activities and how an incident can be traced up the chain when assessing liability.
“Everyone involved with heavy vehicles – whether it’s the business employing the driver or the company receiving goods – is responsible for ensuring the safety of the vehicle, its driver, and its load throughout the journey,” says Simon Tomlinson, Business Development Manager at Cm3.
The legislation surrounding road transport, however, is complex. It requires those in the CoR to produce documentation, manage logbooks, and demonstrate procedures around loads and declarations.
Harnessing Technology To Foster A Culture Of Safety
A critical aspect of reducing fatalities and safety incidents in the transport sector is creating a culture of safety. Australian WHS Strategy enablers include:
- Embedding good WHS practices in workplaces
- Innovating and deepening knowledge of WHS risks
- Collaborating consistently and effectively to respond to WHS challenges
Another key to success is leveraging technology to overcome the complexities of compliance. Cm3’s comprehensive solutions allow you to not only meet your legislative requirements but also foster a culture of safety across your organisation.
Using their Compliance Management Software and extensive industry experience, Cm3’s dedicated team of assessors take the headache out of managing transport contractors. Focusing on key areas of the CoR, they assess your contractors for their preparedness to manage risks and provide confidence that they are qualified and capable of getting the job done safely.
By embracing a safety culture, leveraging technology, and implementing best practice standards, we can pave the way for safer roads and reduce transport fatalities, so that every worker can return home safely at the end of the day.
