Beyond the funny comments online, a serious issue of load restraint ignorance tackled
A safety blunder detected by National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) officers in Victoria has become a “social media sensation”, the regulator reports.
In what might be a social media record for the authority, more than two million people have viewed and thousands more commented on the NHVR’s Facebook post on the inadequate load restraint that was used to transport an excavator weighing more than 20 tonnes.
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Social media post from the NHVR shows this excavator ratchet-strapped instead of chained
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The NHVR’s Facebook post has so far generated around 12,000 comments from truck drivers and transport workers who were stunned by the rookie safety error – as well as a few from drivers who mistakenly thought four straps was enough to secure the excavator.
NHVR load restraint prosecution in SA
NHVR SEO Sal Petroccitto notes that the post demonstrated how social media can be a powerful road safety education tool.
“Lots of people found this post amusing, but it had a serious purpose,” Petroccitto says.
“The NHVR’s social media channels allow us to highlight the safety risks our staff regularly encounter.
“The online conversation between transport workers and the NHVR allowed us to explain how this load should have been restrained and what the consequences could have been.
“I’d like to thank our safety and compliance officers and wider team for getting that message into the Facebook feeds of millions of people – helping to make our roads safer for everyone.”