Where is the HNVL heading? Hopefully, it will not be off the safety clutter cliff.
The Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill proposes implementing safety management systems as the method by which heavy vehicle operators can gain accreditation in respect of prescribed operations e.g. mass management and fatigue. An operator’s safety management system must be audited against a safety management system standard (yet to be defined). Audit outcomes may be used in proceedings for an offence under COR (section 26C).
This makes me very nervous. The new requirements around using safety management systems to demonstrate compliance will be subject to the same ills as any accreditation program (including the current NHVAS) i.e. gaming by duty holders and the inconsistent conducting of audits and application of the standard by auditors. WHS is emerging from 3 decades of safety management systems, which resulted in complexity, safety clutter and diversion away from operational safety activity and onto documentation and “compliance” with audit criteria, particularly in the contractor safety management space. I sincerely hope the NHVR engage with the thought leaders in WHS, Drew Rae and others to avoid the pitfalls and overreliance on safety management systems as a panacea for all our safety woes in the heavy vehicle space.
Sue