09:34 pm, Tuesday 22 January, 2013

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Australia’s first independent national heavy vehicle regulator, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is now open and will be tasked to manage the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) and Performance Based Standards (PBS).

According to ABC News, NHVR will be fully operational in July 2013 once all state and territory governments have passed legislation.

Under this new regulation, laws covering trucks bigger than 4.5 tonnes will be uniform throughout the country. Fatigue management will also be incorporated this year once state governments make reforms to existing laws.

In November 2012, Chair of the NHVR, Mr Bruce Baird AM said the establishment of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) Amendment Bill, which was introduced to the Queensland Parliament was a critical step for full national operations this year.

“Establishing a national specialist regulator with these responsibilities will help to deliver safer and more efficient operations, boost innovation and unlock national productivity gains of up to $12.4 billion over the next 20 years,” he said.

A website has also been launched where information about safety, accreditation and compliance, and fatigue management is provided.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Chief Executive Officer Richard Hancock said the NHVR will make it easier for industry to do National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) and Performance Based Standards (PBS) in the country.

“We’re introducing a more efficient system that combines the application and payment processes into one easy step,” he said.

“This system will save you time and money because it can reduce the number of steps you go through to obtain or renew NHVAS accreditation.”

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04:26 pm, Saturday 27 October, 2012

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Minister for Roads, Terry Mulder has recently announced the results of a study on the effectiveness of side airbags at the Australian Performance Vehicles (APV) Tech Centre.

The research was conducted by analysing a range of side airbag systems along with police injury crash data in Australia and New Zealand. This was conducted by Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC).

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to improving safety for road users, including encouraging safer vehicle purchases and investigating the effectiveness of safety features,” said Mr Mulder.

“Side impact vehicle crashes are common and harmful, accounting for 25 percent of vehicle occupant casualties and 28 percent of fatalities in Australia.

“The analysis found a dramatic 51 percent reduction in injury to all body regions; a 61 percent reduction in injury to the head, neck, face and chest, and a 53 percent reduction in injury to the head, neck and face.

“There is no doubt that combination airbags are highly effective in reducing injury and death in a crash,” said Mr Mulder.

Vehicle Safety and Policy at VicRoads Manager, Ross McArthur said he was happy to provide this safety information to the Victorian community.

“The results of this study demonstrate just how much of a difference safety features can make in preventing deaths on our roads,” said Mr McArthur.

TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore encourages all Victorians to consider safety first when purchasing a car.

“Side curtain airbags can fully inflate within 15 milliseconds of impact to protect occupants from the vehicle and intruding objects such as poles, trees and other vehicles,” said Ms Dore.

“Drivers should choose a vehicle with proven safety features, such as side airbags, to protect themselves and their loved ones in the event of a crash.

“This research shows just how critical safety features such as side curtain airbags can be,” said Ms Dore.

“TAC encourages all drivers to do their homework and put safety features such as side airbags front of mind when buying a car.”

The study is supported by the Commonwealth Government, VicRoads, TAC, the New Zealand Government, Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs including the RACv, and Australian States and Territories.

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04:36 pm, Monday 15 October, 2012

The latest Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) result is out and the report reveals that utes are lagging behind in safety ratings.

According to an AAP report, only one in seven 2012 model utes, which is the Holden Colorado dual cab was given five stars in the ANCAP safety tests.

Eight percent of the other 23 vehicle types tested received a five-star stamp of approval.

The result prompted scrutiny among staff at the NSW Centre for Road Safety.

“The lack of new five-star rated utes on the market is a concern for fleet buyers who are now very conscious of occupational workplace safety,” said CFRS general manager Marg Prendergast.

NRMA vehicle safety expert Jack Haley, says there is an increased pressure for makers to build high-quality utes that will get the five-star rating.

“The bar has been set much higher this year as evidenced by the number of 5-star ANCAP safety rated vehicles,” he said.

“However we encourage utility manufacturers to adopt the same safety technology.”

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05:42 pm, Monday 30 July, 2012

The NSW Government will spend $1 million to help reduce incidents of quad bike deaths across the state.

The Minister for Finance and Services Greg Pearce said the money will be used to fund research into vehicle safety and improve quad bike protective devices and accessories.

“According to Farmsafe Australia, more than 150 people have died in quad bike incidents in the last 10 years, with almost nine out of 10 rollover deaths occurring on farms,” said Mr Pearce.

“Quad bikes are used extensively on farms for weed control, mustering, property inspections and maintenance work.

“Earlier this month a 13 year old girl died after falling off a quad bike near Wollongong – and last year the oldest victim from a quad bike fatality was a 94-year-old man.

“Every quad bike fatality is a tragedy and it’s time for researchers, regulators, manufacturers and the farming community to work together to improve safety for all quad bike users,” he said.

Mr Pearce added that the research will be conducted at the University of NSW’s Transport and Road Safety research facility.

“Through this $1 million research project, experts in vehicle safety will conduct a series of crash tests to identify engineering and design enhancements which could improve quad bike safety,” Mr Pearce said.

“Most fatalities are the result of head injuries or from being trapped under overturned vehicles and for the first time anywhere in the world, the role of protective systems in the prevention of asphyxia and serious chest injuries when a quad bike rolls over will be tested.

“The project will also consider the recommendation of a national safety standard for all quad bike manufacturers and suppliers.”

The research is expected to commence soon.

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08:29 am, Wednesday 26 May, 2010

A man has been dragged 20 metres and crushed to death by the tip truck he was driving in Sydney’s northern suburbs on Thursday morning.

According to police, the 54-year-old driver was attempting to detach the back trailer from his tip truck on Brabyn Street at Denistone East when the truck rolled back.

A co-worker tried to pull him out from under the back wheels, to no avail. He then entered the truck’s cabin to stop the vehicle, but couldn’t work out how to operate the brakes.

The man was hauled for 20 metres until the truck came to halt after hitting two parked four-wheel-drives.

According to Eastwood police supervisor Sergeant Gary Lawler, the man suffered massive head injuries.

He was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital where he died.

The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union’s Rick Rech said inspection revealed the handbrake was not put on and the truck was not in gear when he got out.

Sergeant Lawler said the driver was on his way to a construction site at Denistone East Public School to deliver landfill.

The site foreman had reportedly asked the driver to unhook the trailer before driving it on to the site. He then parked on a hilltop and went to the back of the truck.

“While he was doing that the truck’s started to roll backwards,” Sergeant Lawler said.

“The [co-worker] attempted to pull him from under the truck but he’s been unable to help him.

“He then ran around to the front cabin and tried to stop the vehicle … [but] not knowing the ins and outs of how you operate a truck he’s been unable to engage the brake system.”

Police and WorkCover NSW are both looking into the incident.

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06:58 pm, Thursday 15 April, 2010

Operations have recommenced in the Leinster nickel mine yesterday while safety authorities continue their investigation into an accident that has claimed a man’s life.

A 45-year-old worker died on Sunday in the mine in Goldsfields after his truck fell 18 metres down an underground shaft.

According to the mining company, workers have started surface operations after work was suspended in the days following the tragic incident. However, full production will not resume for several weeks.

Meanwhile, WA Greens’ Alison Xamon said changes to the mine safety system in the state should change.

“The solutions are out there. They’ve been out there for some time. By calling an urgent judicial inquiry we will finally bring it to a head,” she said.

“We have had three reviews of the Mines Act already in the last 10 years and several inquiries into the resources industry and the same things keep getting found over and over again.

“It’s just about time someone started implementing rather than constant investigations.”

According to Mines Minister Norman Moore, the industry is starting to introduce a risk-based assessment scheme.

He has downplayed the opposition’s call for a royal commission into the worker’s death.

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