TruckSafe accredited operators should be well positioned to meet changes to the chain of responsibility laws, says Chair of TruckSafe, Ferdie Kroon.

The reforms are scheduled to come into force in mid-2018, and will align chain of responsibility laws more closely with workplace health and safety laws. They include a new general safety duty and the extension of chain of responsibility to vehicle maintenance.

The TruckSafe board met last week to look at how the reforms would affect the TruckSafe standards.

“The board has reviewed the new chain of responsibility provisions and the consultation draft of the master registered code of practice being developed by the ATA and Australian Logistics Council,” Mr Kroon said.

“We worked through the provisions in detail, and the good news is that TruckSafe accredited operators are well positioned to meet the new requirements of the law and the draft master code.

“Our operators worked very hard in 2016 to upgrade their safety management systems to meet the new standards, which came into force on 1 January 2017,” Mr Kroon said.

He said accredited operators now have controls in place, such as business practices, training, procedures and review processes that will help them:

·       identify, assess, evaluate, and control risk

·       manage compliance with speed, fatigue, mass, dimension, loading and vehicle standards requirements

·       meet regular reporting requirements

·       document or record actions taken to manage safety.

“All the hard work last year will pay off for operators in 2018,” Mr Kroon said.

TruckSafe will advise operators of any changes to the TruckSafe standards well before the chain or responsibility reforms come into effect.

“I’d like to thank TruckSafe board members for their efforts throughout 2017, and I wish our TruckSafe operators a safe and prosperous new year,” he said.