Factors surrounding tanker driver’s actions under investigation
The New South Wales Environment Protection Agency (NSW EPA) has furnished details on the circumstances involving a truck driver who lost his dangerous goods licence.
The details are fairly incomplete, with the NSW EPA indicating an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged offending is ongoing.
“The EPA has been in contact with all relevant people and is still investigating whether the company is responsible or liable,” an NSW EPA spokesperson says.
“As this matter is currently under investigation the EPA cannot comment further at this time.”
The unnamed driver’s dangerous goods licence was first issued in 2008, the agency reveals.
He renewed the licence in 2016 and undertook the prescribed training in March 2016.
It is not suspected that the driver’s alleged offending resulted from a failing in the initial training.
“Employers of all drivers have a duty to ensure refresher training and supervision is undertaken to prevent unlawful behaviour,” the spokesperson says.
The information provided by the driver was taken into account in deciding whether to cancel his DG licence.
He was charged with six counts of use of prohibited routes by NSW Police.
Read how the EPA revealed the DG licence was cancelled, here
Asked if the owner of the cargo of petrol had been contacted about the issue, the spokesperson responds: “Transport managers and companies are reminded that all employees involved must be trained, instructed and supervised to ensure the activity is safe and lawful. Operators must ensure that all transport occurs safely and lawfully.”
Regarding the involvement of other government authorities in such cases, the spokesperson responds more generally, saying: “The initial investigation was assisted by heavy vehicle inspectors from Transport for NSW [TfNSW] and NSW Police prosecuted the driver for the prohibited routes offences.
“Guidance and training has been provided to both TfNSW and Police on identification of heavy vehicles unlawfully using prohibited routes.
“Both authorities are actively inspecting heavy vehicles to ensure that prohibited routes are not being used.
“The EPA is also liaising with the Transport Management Centre and tunnel operators in the identification of potential prohibited routes use.”