The NHVR has released the draft Electronic Work Diary (EWD) Compliance Policy ensuring that electronic and written work diaries are treated the same.
NHVR Safety and Productivity Executive Director Geoff Casey said the EWD Compliance Policy would provide the right balance between safety and compliance to ensure a consistent approach for those who voluntarily use the new technology and that information is accurate and accessible.
“The policy outlines the NHVR’s requirements for meeting record keeping laws whether you utilise the technology or use traditional Written Work Diaries (WWDs),” Mr Casey said.
“For example, EWDs will record and show work and rest time to the nearest minute, unlike WWDs which use blocks of 15 minutes. This will be a benefit to many drivers who will no longer have to round down rest time, or round up work time, to the nearest 15 minute block.
“The EWD Compliance Policy will also make it clear that while an EWD must alert drivers of an approaching work or rest deadline, potential minor breaches of less than 15 minutes will not appear as a breach in the EWD Compliance View.
“Authorised officers who check EWDs will access the Compliance View of a driver’s work and rest times,” he said.
“Drivers will also have the ability to correct information prior to approving their work and rest times at the end of each work day.”
The EWD Compliance Policy states: As EWDs may provide greater visibility of drivers’ records at the roadside, the requirements about recording and interpreting EWD information must be equivalent to a WWD in three key aspects:
- Drivers control their work and rest records entered into the EWD
- Drivers can review and correct their information
- Minor breaches of less than 15 minutes should not be sanctioned unless there is an immediate safety concern or a pattern of deliberate and repeated non-compliance.
The NHVR recently completed consultation on the EWD Policy Framework and EWD Standards.
Once finalised, the outcomes will be published and the NHVR will begin preparations to accept applications from technology providers for approval to provide the technology to record work and rest.
Mr Casey said that while EWDs must meet the requirements of the EWD Standards, they may include additional functionality to meet individual business needs.
For more information go to www.nhvr.gov.au/ewd