Origin has taken the lead in an initiative to keep Queensland’s roads safe. CSG Logistics Safety Code of Practice has just been launched in readiness for the expected increased heavy vehicle traffic as the four major CSG to LNG projects begin. Origin has vowed that it is committed to ensuring that every heavy vehicle movement is a safe one.
According to the code there are 45 legal elements that company’s employees and contractors are obliged to comply with once the code is signed.
The necessity for the code is evident in the road fatality statistics, which reveal that 20% of road deaths were as a result of heavy vehicle incidents. Most people killed in heavy vehicle crashes are not occupants of the heavy vehicle. Fatal and serious crashes involving heavy vehicles are estimated to cost over $100 million per year. Heavy vehicles provide a particularly serious threat to road safety due to the long hours they spend on the road ad their mass which means that they can cause even more serious consequences than light motor vehicles if involved in a crash.
On their website The Australian Logistics Council stated the following:
The CSG Code has been developed in line with the National Logistics Safety Code. Among the areas covered are:
- Fatigue management, including driver health and fitness for duty, scheduling, transit times;
- Safe loading practices including mass, dimension and load restraint;
- Speed management;
- Vehicle compliance and safety;
- Contractor safety including subcontractor management.
The Australian Logistics Council issued a licence to Origin under the new code, and Managing Director Michael Kilgariff congratulated Origin for taking such a proactive approach to how they handle safety on the state’s roads.
“CSG will account for a large proportion of the forecast increase in heavy vehicle usage in Queensland,” he said.
“In becoming the first signatory to the CSG Code, Origin is ensuring that all company employees operating heavy vehicles, contractors and subcontractors will comply with the 45 legal elements laid out in the Code.”
Heavy vehicles have been over-represented in recent road fatality statistics in Queensland. In 2010 they were involved in accidents that resulted in 47 deaths, almost 20% of the state’s road toll that year.
“At Origin safety is always our number one priority” said Mr Zealand, “The Code will build on the vehicle management safety policies already in operation which include, speed inhibitors, vehicle monitoring systems and extensive driver training.”
The CSG Code comes into effect ahead of the introduction of the National Heavy Vehicle Law on January 1, 2013. It will standardise heavy-vehicle legislation across Australia, and will be enforced by a national regulator.
While Origin is the first corporate to sign the initiative, it is hoped that many more companies will follow their example in the commitment to do their part toward road safety. Ensuring all parties in a supply chain be required to implement positive actions to prevent breaches of the law under Chain of Responsibility obligations.
Some of the commitments that organisations make under the Code are:
- The responsibility to promote and maintain a safe system of operations in the transport chain of responsibility.
- To comply with all road transport laws applying to the company’s operations.
- Manufacturers, suppliers, retailers or logistics suppliers acknowledge not to knowingly make or meet any demand or requirement that would cause a breach road transport laws.
- To commit to actively support the development of appropriate industry Codes of Conduct, Codes of Practice and Guidelines for the purpose of promoting compliance with road transport laws.
- Ensure suitable and adequate processes, policies and training comply with relevant laws
- Ensuring equipment is well maintained, appropriately designed and vehicles that are equipped properly.
- Fatigue management, driver health and safety and safety and security strategies.
- Recognising that cost alone should not be the determining factor in meeting obligations under the code.
- Actively supporting and assisting the National Transport Commission to meet its responsibility to develop appropriate uniform or nationally consistent road transport regulations and operational reforms.
While speeding, driving while fatigued, not wearing seatbelts, drink and drug driving and improper load restraints and sizes all are major contributors to road incidents, by signing the code companies will commit to doing their part in reducing fatalities on our roads by making a conscious effort to eliminate these hazards to make our roads safer for everyone.
