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BFM & AFM: Fatigue management courses evolve

In a move to ensure fatigue training is administered effectively and adhered to by transport operators, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has worked with the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) to develop a new training package.

 

The new training units will be offered by Registered Training Organisations (RTO) that register with the Regulator, a move that NHVR Executive Director Productivity and Safety Geoff Casey says will improve the integrity of fatigue training.

“Before the RTO could offer the training without NHVR consent, now they have to register with us.

“They’ll report to us regularly and we have that ability to audit.

“This is in line with best practice, as part of a continuous improvement program.”

Casey says this will ensure that recipients of training will best demonstrate applicable knowledge, as a result of improved transparency.

“This new training package will ensure the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and heavy vehicle industry have greater certainty that personnel can demonstrate the knowledge and skills to work safely,” he said.

“It will support transport efficiency, while improving road safety.”

The new training units were developed in consultation with industry and will be used to upskill not just drivers, but also schedulers, supervisors, managers and business owners in managing fatigue and administering fatigue management processes.

“Through a series of forums hosted with the heavy vehicle industry, we gained a range of views from those in the heavy vehicle industry to understand why non-compliance exists.

“The new training units address the issues raised and should help industry to manage driver fatigue on a daily basis,” Casey said.

Chair of the AISC, John Pollaers, says the changes demonstrate how industry involvement in training package development can lead to quality outcomes for employers, employees and students.

“This is just one industry facing challenges as technology and consumer expectations advance – and one example of industry meeting these challenges by being adaptive and working to reskill workers to keep up,” Pollaers said.

The NHVR will accept registrations from RTO’s from 1 January, 2018.

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