The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has warned executives of heavy vehicle supply chain companies to be aware of their responsibilities under the changed Chain of Responsibility (COR) laws following a number of current investigations. Eight months down the COR reform track, NHVR statutory compliance executive director Ray Hassall reveals the NHVR is currently undertaking six COR investigations and a further eight cases were being monitored. “Investigations range from serious systemic breaches to responding to information gathered through the NHVR’s Confidential Reporting Line,” Hassall says. “All current investigations include the executive officers of companies, in addition to other roles within the supply chain. “It’s important that executives make themselves aware of the responsibility associated with their interactions with the heavy vehicle supply chain.” Those investigations include the following allegations:

• directions to disregard of work/rest requirements
• the absence of safety management systems to prevent non-compliance
• ineffective driver monitoring systems
• poor load restraint practices.

Executive officers have an obligation to exercise due diligence to ensure parties in the chain of responsibility (COR) comply with their requirements under the law, the regulator notes. “This may be described as a comprehensive appraisal of business systems and activities to establish methodology or evaluate performance of safe goods transportation,” it says. “Each party in the heavy vehicle supply chain was liable and responsible to the extent of their level of influence and control over the particular transport task.” The NHVR is also actively monitoring four supply chain businesses that are required to improve their safety practices. “Operators are required to meet their safety duty requirements under the recent changes by ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of their transport activities,” Hassall says. The NHVR is urging all parties in the supply chain to make use of a variety of tools available for operators through the NHVR’s Safety Management System or the Registered Industry Code of Practice to give detailed guidance for operators. Hassall is keen to bring attention to the amended HVNL’s Section 699, which protects from employer punishment employees who have given authorities information of or made any complaint about alleged contraventions of that law. Source: www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1905/nhvr-lifts-lid-on-cor-enforcement-effort.