Operators transporting construction materials have been urged by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to prioritise compliance with safety standards for their heavy vehicles.
The request comes after the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) conducted “Operation Sapphire” which involved more than 4500 inspections. The regulator specifically looked at heavy vehicles in the construction materials and demolition waste sectors.
The month-long project found some areas for the sectors to focus on moving forward, including faulty brakes.
“The primary concern was mechanical non-compliance, with 3,074 defective components identified during the operation and whilst the majority of these were minor issues, 113 were classified as major and mainly for faulty brakes,” NVHR chief operations officer Paul Salvati said.
“NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) issued 1,530 defect notices as a result of mechanical non-compliance.
“I would like to urge all operators to take these findings seriously and invest in proactive maintenance, and prioritise pre-departure checks of their vehicle before it hits the road to ensure it is safe and ready for the journey.”
The investigation, conducted with the support of the police, targeted areas including transport corridors, quarries, waste disposal sites and construction zones.
The operation also noted some heavy vehicles were over the mass limits. The regulator identified 94 breaches, including 47 classified as “substantial offences” and 11 as “severe violations”. Loading concerns were also identified including 82 overall offences with 67 minor offences and 14 “substantial offences”.
“While we recognise and commend the vast majority of industry who are committed to safety and compliance, the results from this operation show there is certainly opportunity for improvement,” Salvati said.
“Whether you’re transporting building materials or equipment to and from construction sites, or transporting waste to a facility – safety is never disposable.”
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