Year-long safety campaign focuses on SA road transport sector

Year-long Safety Campaign Focuses on SA Road Transport Sector

Summary: SafeWork SA has launched a year-long safety campaign targeting the South Australian road transport sector, following a three-day truck stop operation near Port Augusta that uncovered widespread compliance issues across the industry.

Truck Stop Operation Uncovers Widespread Non-Compliance

SafeWork SA carried out 129 truck audits during the operation, discovering that over two-thirds of vehicles exhibited safety issues. Findings like these highlight why every transport operator should maintain a documented road freight transport checklist to track compliance throughout the year's campaign.

“A team of SafeWork SA inspectors issued 166 statutory notices for non-compliance issues including poor condition of load restraints, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for dangerous goods carried, no fire extinguishers, drivers not being adequately trained to carry dangerous goods and lack of roadside safety warning triangles,” the workplace safety regulator said.

Follow-up Compliance Checks Planned

SafeWork SA said inspectors will check in with affected truck operators in coming weeks to confirm they've complied with the notices issued during the operation.

This follow-up approach reflects a broader safety policy shift toward proactive enforcement across South Australia's transport corridors, including remote routes linking distant depots to metropolitan hubs.

Targeting High-Risk Transport Businesses

The regulator indicated it will additionally focus on transport businesses that have previously experienced a high volume of workers' compensation claims, particularly operators servicing remote freight routes where oversight can be limited.

Such a targeted policy aims to reduce risk exposure for drivers and protect the wider community that relies on safe transport operations across the state.

Strengthening Compliance Across the Transport Industry

Businesses operating within South Australia's transport sector can prepare for similar audits by reviewing their documentation against current transport and warehousing safety templates, which cover load restraint procedures, dangerous goods handling, and driver training requirements.

Operators seeking a comprehensive approach may also benefit from transport and warehousing safety packages that bundle multiple compliance documents into a single, easy-to-implement solution.

SafeWork SA's initiative follows a pattern seen in other jurisdictions, where regulators have run targeted road safety campaigns to address specific industry risks. For example, a NSW mine safety regulator recently conducted a successful road safety campaign, while other efforts have included a road safety campaign targeting young drivers and an Australian music star joining a road safety campaign to raise awareness.

Businesses managing dangerous goods deliveries can further strengthen their systems using a dedicated postal and warehousing OHS management system for freight operators or an established delivery occupational health and safety management system.

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