My work diary is a mess!
“I was pulled over in New South Wales and now gotta go to court because my Work diary was all wrong. I am required to do the fatigue management course. Can you help me?”
Not a new scenario at all, but a regular in the phone calls we get. A common problem that concerns the regulator and the road authorities is that of poorly or not filled out Work diaries.
Properly completed diaries are an important part of an effective fatigue risk management system. Drivers and Operators must ensure compliance. Steps on how to fill out the diary is part of the unit: TLIF 2010 – Apply fatigue management strategies. There are NHVR web pages which assist drivers and operators to comply and follow correct steps.
Some important things to take into account are:
• Drivers working under standard hours can work 12 hours in a 24-hour period, while drivers with basic fatigue management (BFM) accreditation can work 14 hours.
• A 24-hour period starts at the end of any major rest break, which is any period of rest of at least 5 or 7 continuous hours (depending on your work and rest option),
• The 24-hour period ends 24 hours later at the exact same time on the following day. It doesn’t matter how much work you have done or rest you have taken during that time period.
• Remember that the 5 or 7 continuous hour period for a major rest break is the minimum amount of continuous rest required in a 24-hour period. Taking a major rest break will not automatically reset a 24-hour period.
• Accordingly, a major rest break during this time will only start another 24-hour period, meaning that a solo driver who works 12 hours in a 24-hour period (standard hours) must also have a total of 12 hours rest.
More information can be found at the following links:
https://www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accreditation-compliance/fatigue-management/work-diaries-and-record-keeping/work-diaries
https://www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accreditation-compliance/fatigue-management/work-and-rest-requirements/basic-fatigue