A recent NHVR safety survey of almost 4000 participants has shown that two-thirds of heavy vehicle businesses have a safety system in their operation.
NHVR Chief Executive Officer Sal Petroccitto says the results of the 2020 NHVR Industry Safety Survey demonstrates the ongoing commitment from the majority of industry to keep pursuing improved safety outcomes.
“We know industry has increasingly adopted and invested in improved safety practices over the last 10 years and the significant take up of Safety Management Systems continues to support better safety results,” Petroccitto says.
“Importantly, safety systems focus on a whole-of-business approach to safety including the important pre-trip check, which ensures vehicles are safe to operate on the road and that drivers are fit for duty before getting behind the wheel.”
Some of the key results from the survey include:
- 62 per cent of respondents had a basic safety system in place.
- 78 per cent of managers said they had an ongoing program of safety promo communication in their business, compared to 52 per cent of drivers and 71 per cent of loaders.
- 76 per cent of respondents agreed that relevant safety training was occurring on an ongoing basis.
- The most common safety practice among owner-drivers was a vehicle inspection (97 per cent), compared to a regular personal health check-up (71 per cent), a safe driving plan (62 per cent), or keeping informed of safety issues and information (62 per cent).
Petroccitto explains that the 2020 NHVR Industry Safety Survey provides a baseline result of the current safety environment that can be collectively monitored to understand trends and changes across safety practices.
“This information is critical as a Regulator to ensure we are providing the relevant and effective information and guidance industry needs to keep doing their job safely.”
“The survey results, coupled with the recent results from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics showing a reduction in truck fatalities by close to 18 per cent compared to the last financial year, is pleasing to see.
“Although this survey was conducted prior to the onset of the pandemic, we’re also speaking to operators about incorporating the latest health information into their safety systems.”
The NHVR conducted the survey in March 2020 and received responses from a wide cross section of industry employees, including drivers, managers and operators.
A snapshot of the survey results is available by clicking here. For more information on the NHVR’s free online information sessions on the survey results on September 28, please click here.