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New Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue laws commenced on 29 September 2008. The reforms make all parties in the supply chain legally responsible for preventing driver fatigue.
The new laws apply to both trucks and buses. They apply to a truck with a GVM of over 4.5 tonnes. They also apply to a bus with more than 12 seats, including the driver. The laws do not cover plant items (machines or implements) or motor homes.
The new laws are consistent with current obligations under Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) laws that also require employers and employees take all reasonably practicable steps to manage driver fatigue.
To assist these parties in complying with the new laws the National Transport Commission has developed Guidelines for Managing Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue. These Guidelines provide advice on creating a systematic fatigue management system based on a risk management approach.
Training in Fatigue Management
- Updated: 16 October 2008 (accessed from www.NTC.gov.au)
Under the new laws, bus operators will need to make sure their drivers and schedulers are competent. This is done through Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector training and assessment.
To ensure everybody has a good understanding about what fatigue is and how it can be managed to keep drivers safe, some workers need to become competent in fatigue management practices before an operator’s Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) or Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) accreditation will be granted.
This means some people need to complete units of competence, which are recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and delivered through the VET sector.
Competency requirements
The fatigue management modules in the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) are underpinned by minimum standards which must be met by an operator to manage fatigue. These standards contain specific requirements relating to fatigue knowledge and awareness.
In some States and Territories the local bus accreditation may substitute for NHVAS accreditation and enable you to drive within the BFM option. All operators must meet the same nationally approved standards and training requirements regardless of which accreditation scheme they are in.
Please consult your local road agency for further details. An operator must make sure that all staff members are aware of the companies fatigue management policies and procedures (e.g. induction course and refresher training).
In addition to this, the standards also specify that:
- any person that drives a bus must demonstrate competence with TLIF1007C Apply fatigue management strategies; and management strategies; and
- any person who is a scheduler, or who supervises or manages bus drivers and scheduling staff must demonstrate competence with TLIF6307A Administer the implementation of fatigue management strategies.
Most drivers and staff will probably choose to complete an individual competency unit in order to fulfil the requirements for fatigue management accreditation.
However, some individuals may choose to obtain a wider qualification in transport and logistics such as Certificates III and IV in Transport and Logistics.
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