The NHVR is set to target the construction industry in a nationwide blitz, focusing on mechanical safety and compliance with mass, dimension and loading requirements of heavy vehicles operating in support of the construction sector.
The regulator’s chief operations officer Paul Salvati said the on-road operation will start this month and run for four weeks across NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, ACT, and TAS.
“Throughout the operation, we will prioritise education in the first instance to ensure operators and drivers have a clear understanding of the risks associated with non-compliance during heavy vehicle transport activities in the construction industry, and know how to manage them,” he said.
“Drivers and operators should always be practicing safe behaviours, such as implementing a daily check list to ensure the mechanical safety of vehicles, or utilising measuring devices, such as tape measures or height sticks, to confirm the vehicle and its load are within allowable dimensions.
“Managing safety risks can help prevent injuries and fatalities, avoid financial loss for the business, evade legal sanctions, enhance business reputation, and create a culture where informed safety decisions are made.”
The NHVR also ran a construction-focused operation last year, from March 1 to April 15, during which they inspected more than 1,200 vehicles.
Salvati said there were “encouraging signs of compliance” but the regulators’ work is far from over.
“Overall, 56.4 per cent of heavy construction vehicles were compliant across all HVNL categories, with especially high compliance across mass and loading,” he said.
“However the results in the mechanical compliance category were indicative of the work we still have to do.
“Of the defective components identified, the most serious were in brakes, body and chassis, while others were found in lights and reflectors.”
The NHVR is urging all operators and drivers working in the construction industry to keep safety front of mind.
“Heavy vehicle hazards in the construction industry traditionally include loads not being properly restrained, vehicles exceeding mass or dimension limits and of course, the mechanical safety of vehicles, especially heavy rigid truck, and trailer combinations.
“These may seem like standard risks, but they are amplified – especially on a construction site – by time pressures, constant loading and unloading, and the frequency of travel alongside other motorists on major roads and thoroughfares.”
Without seeming to be picking on them maybe do a cleanup of tradesmen’s vehicles, from what I can see most are overloaded, headlights on low beam bloody blind you and of course their always in a hurry and must pass you.
Just a thought.