Companies receive Improvement Notices to rectify fatigue breaches
13-04-2022
Two companies have recently been issued with Improvement Notices by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
An NHVR investigation identified multiple work diary, work hours and fatigue issues, and both companies failed to provide adequate fatigue compliance training and appropriate scheduling for their employees.
Under the Improvement Notices, both companies, must take corrective action and deliver activities including formal training, weekly and fortnightly audits, revised scheduling, Driver Safe Journey Plans, and non-conformance policies, to prevent further breaches.
NHVR Director of Investigations Steve Underwood, said immediate action must be taken by both companies, after they put their drivers and the wider community at risk.
“It was clear from the evidence, that the conduct of both companies put road users at risk of harm,” Steve said.
“An improvement notice enables the offenders to improve their safety and compliance systems quickly, with the NHVR monitoring the required notice activities to remedy the situation.”
An improvement notice is issued to a company or individual where it is believed that without immediate corrective action, offences will continue to occur. The offender’s ability to comply with the notice is considered before issuing the notice.
Failure to comply with the requirements of an Improvement Notice attracts a maximum court-imposed penalty of $50,000 for a corporation.
(Information supplied by NHVR – On the Road Issue 137)