Changes to Chain of Responsibility

New Primary Duty laws

On 1 October 2018, the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) was amended to provide that every party in the heavy vehicle transport supply chain has a duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities. In practical terms, this primary duty represents an obligation to eliminate or minimise potential harm or loss (risk) by doing all that is reasonably practicable to ensure safety. As a party in the supply chain, the best way to do this is to have safety management systems and controls in place, such as business practices, training, procedures and review processes that:

  • identify, assess, evaluate, and control risk
  • manage compliance with speed, fatigue, mass, dimension, loading and vehicle standards requirements through identified best practice
  • involve regular reporting, including to executive officers
  • document or record actions taken to manage safety.

CoR and Safety Management Systems Information Sessions

The NHVR is holding industry information sessions across the country to explain the changes to CoR, the impact on your business and how a Safety Management System can help you effectively manage your operation’s safety risks.

Register State Date Time Location Venue
Register Qld 27 Feb 4-5pm AEST Goondiwindi The Sundial Events Centre
Register Vic 27 Feb 10-11am AEDT Hoppers Crossing Plaza Tavern
Register Qld 4 Mar 10-11am AEST Cairns Rydges Plaza
Register NSW 6 Mar 2-3pm AEDT Taree Taree Entertainment Centre
Register Qld 7 Mar 10-11am AEST Emerald Maraboon Tavern
Register NSW 12 Mar 11am-12pm AEDT Bega Bega Country Club
Register Vic 13 Mar 6-7pm AEDT Swan Hill Town Hall - Auditorium
Register SA 13 Mar 10-11am ACDT Riverland Berri Hotel
Register Vic 20 Mar 12-1pm AEDT Portland Civic Centre
Register NSW 27 Mar 2-3pm AEDT Sydney Novotel Sydney West HQ
Register SA 27 Mar 10-11am ACDT Port Augusta Central Augusta Football and Community Sporting Club Inc.
Register NSW 28 Mar 12-1pm AEDT Tamworth West Diggers Leagues Club

CoR and Safety Management Systems video presentation

1. Safety Duties and CoR

2. Safety Management Systems

3. SMS Tools and Templates

4. Codes of Practice and accreditation schemes

CoR Gap Assessment Tool

Through a series of practical questions, the CoR Gap Assessment Tool enables you to examine your business practices and systems controls against known risks and recognised best practice.

Safety Management Systems

  • Introduction to risk management (PDF, 424KB) - This guide will familiarise you with risk management and help you begin to establish and refine your own processes for identifying, assessing and managing risks in your heavy vehicle transport activities.
  • SMS fact sheet (PDF, 269KB) - A Safety Management System is a systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organisational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures, which is integrated throughout the business wherever possible.

For more information see the following section of our website, Safety Management Systems (SMS).

Podcasts

Presentations

Videos