Chain of Responsibility Awareness

State/Territory Chain of Responsibility Legislation

In 2014, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, known as the NHVR, began operating in most Australian states and territories, including:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• The Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria

The NHVR regulates heavy vehicles that have a gross vehicle mass of over 4 and a half tonnes and with its introduction came a new set of laws, called the Heavy Vehicle National Laws (HVNL). The introduction of these laws mean that for the first time, heavy vehicle drivers, operators and others in the supply chain work to the same rules, regardless of where they work.

The concept of Chain of Responsibility is fully integrated into the Heavy Vehicle National Laws, meaning all parties in the road transport supply chain can be held responsible for their actions and inactions for breaches of:

• Road transport
• Fatigue
• Speed
• Mass
• Dimension
• Load restraint laws

AVELING’s Chain of Responsibility Awareness course covers the key concepts under the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) chain of responsibility requirements. More details are available from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Following proclamation of supporting regulations, ‘Chain of Responsibility’ legislation was introduced into WA law on 27 April 2015. The Chain of Responsibility provisions recognise that all parties have safety responsibilities when goods are transported by road. More information is available from Main Roads WA

Employers may choose to use AVELING’s Chain of Responsibility course as part of their Risk Management plan, to educate off-road parties and drivers about their responsibilities for fatigue management, speed management and load size, dimension and weight limit.

Course Introduction

Topic 1 – What is Chain of Responsibility?

Section 1 – The Chain of Responsibility Process
Section 2 – The Transport Chain

Topic 2 – Legislative requirements, offences and penalties

Section 1 – Offences under Chain of Responsibility
Section 2 – Taking ‘reasonable steps’
Section 3 – Penalties

Topic 3 – What must be managed?

Section 1 – Speed management
Section 2 – Fatigue management and driver health
Section 3 – Vehicle loads
Section 4 – Dangerous goods

Topic 4 – Specific responsibilities

Section 1 – Shared responsibilities
Section 2 – Consignors
Section 3 – Packers
Section 4 – Loaders
Section 5 – Drivers
Section 6 – Schedulers
Section 7 – Receivers
Section 8 – Operators, owners and managers