Premier announces details for easing border restrictions

NHVR COVID-19 Safety Toolbox Talk

A COVID-19 toolbox talk kit focused on vehicle, workplace and hand hygiene, wearing a facemask and mental health is part of the NHVR’s latest release of practical industry safety material.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the toolbox talk kit, which included a series of quick guides, videos, checklists and templates, had been added to the NHVR’s Safety Management System suite, at the request of operators.

See the resources at the link below the video.

The Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to assess the economic impact of reforms to transport regulation agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2008-09. Those reforms relate to heavy vehicle safety and productivity, rail safety and maritime safety.

The Government also asked the Commission to recommend further reforms towards a more integrated national market for transport services.

Yesterday, the report was published and is available here: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/transport/report 

Some key points from the report are:

• COAG’s harmonisation reforms established national laws and national regulators for heavy vehicles, rail, and domestic commercial vessels.
• After almost a decade, the transition is nearly complete, albeit with some unfinished business:
  • Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not participate in the national heavy vehicle regime
  • unnecessary derogations from the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and Rail Safety National Law (RSNL) continue
  • some grandfathering provisions applying to domestic commercial vessels pose safety risks
  • approval processes for heavy vehicle access to local roads still lag in some areas.
• By most measures, heavy vehicle and rail safety continue to improve, largely due to new technology and infrastructure investments.
• Safety regulation across the three modes is a mix of prescriptive and outcomes based regulation. Amending safety regulation to create a more flexible, outcomes-based approach should improve safety and lift productivity.
• The COAG reforms were expected to unlock large efficiency gains for heavy vehicle operators. While gains have been made, the forecasts were optimistic and have not been achieved.
  • Road access for larger, more efficient trucks has improved, but significant bottlenecks remain on some major freight corridors.
• There are significant opportunities for COAG, regulators and industry to further promote safety and productivity.

October is WorkSafe Month 2020

A reminder that October is WorkSafe Month!  

Register for one of the webinar or training opportunities through the menu options. Be sure to download the 2020 WorkSafe Month Program for a quick reference guide to everything throughout the Month.

Bass Highway Carriageway Closure - POSTPONED

Advice from VEC received today:

Due to the inclement weather forecast this coming weekend, including strong winds and heavy rain, the scheduled bridge deck replacement works on the Bass Highway at the Burnie Wharf Access Road underpass are no longer taking place as planned from 7.00pm Friday 2^nd to 7.00pm Sunday 4^th October
 
VEC expects the works to be completed next weekend, between 7.00pm Friday 9^th and 7.00pm Sunday 11^th October. More information will be provided closer to the date, but in the interim if any OSOM traffic is scheduled between Friday 9^th and Sunday 11^th October, please send through details to Rebecca Loring Rebecca.Loring@vec.com.au at VECor phone 0417 664 941 to support arranging passage with the site supervisor.

Tasmanian Roadworks Roundup

You can see a complete list of all roadworks planned over the next two weeks along with road closures on the Roadworks Roundup section of the Transport website here Roadworks Roundup