Changes to WAHVA Certification Process

Changes to the WAHVA Certification Process

What is the purpose of the Western Australian Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (WAHVA) Scheme?

Main Roads approves and manages the WAHVA Scheme. It is mandatory for anyone requiring a permit or order to perform any transport task within WA, including interstate operators.

The benefits of Accreditation include improved safety, productivity and efficiency, community confidence, driver morale, consistent standards, reduced impact of enforcement, increased vehicle life and lower maintenance costs, better relationship with enforcement agencies, improved skills and accountability of drivers and mechanics, greater confidence in the condition of the company’s vehicles, and reduced vehicle down time.

Accredited operators are required to comply with the Standards in the following mandatory modules and standards: • Maintenance Management Module Standards; • Fatigue Management Module Standards; • Dimension and Loading

Management Module Standards; and • The Common Standards covering all modules.

Accredited operators wishing to operate under the Accredited Mass Management Scheme (AMMS) and/or the Performance Based Standards (PBS) permits with extra mass provision, must also be accredited under the: • Mass Management Module Standards. This is not mandatory - operators may opt in to this Standard.

The Standards have been developed to ensure all operators participating in these modules are achieving at least the same minimum level of compliance.

It is the responsibility of the accredited operator to decide how they are going to prove adherence to these Standards. The important thing is that they document and record the method they use and explain how it works. This forms their Management Systems. It is the responsibility of the accredited operator to have documents and records proving their methods work well and written procedures are always followed. Records may be maintained in either electronic or hard copy format. The operator’s Management Systems must comply with these standards.

Why are WAHVA audits undertaken?

To maintain the integrity of the WAHVA Scheme, operators are audited annually to verify their adherence to the Standards. Additionally, five percent of operators are also randomly audited each year.

What has changed in regards to the WAHVA Auditor Certification Process?

For a number of years the external independent auditors who conducted audits on accredited operators’ systems were certified by an external agency, Exemplar Global.

In September 2021 Main Roads took on the training and certification of WAHVA

Auditors. Auditors have been issued with interim certificates in order for them to continue auditing. If an auditor’s certification was due to expire with Exemplar Global between September 2021 and March 2022 then that date is reflected on the interim certificate. In all other cases the certificate expires on 31 March 2022.

After 31 March 2022 all auditors will need to be certified with Main Roads to work as a WAHVA Auditor.

Main Roads WA still administers WAHVA. Further information is available on our website.

Why has Main Roads taken on administering the training and certification of Auditors?

Main Roads has responded to requests from industry and auditors to take charge of the certification process for WAHVA audits.

Has the training changed, or is it the same?

Auditor training is now completed on-line through the Main Roads website. It is no longer available on the Exemplar Global site. The focus of the training is now more aligned with WAHVA Scheme requirements and participants are encouraged to be conversant with the WAHVA Scheme requirements, including driver fatigue requirements, before attempting the training.

Was this change part of the WAHVA Review?

This decision to move the training aligns with the recommendations from the Accreditation Review consultation with industry.

Are there likely to be any other changes to the Auditor Certification requirements as part of the WAHVA Review?

There are no plans for any further changes as a result of the review.

To perform audits on operators registered in the WAHVA Scheme, do auditors have to be certified with Main Roads, or can they just use the National accreditation with Exemplar Global?

Auditors must be certified with Main Roads as a WAHVA Auditor. Are we still working on mutual recognition of Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Schemes and auditors, or does this mean we are moving away from the “national approach”?

Main Roads and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) are currently investigating possible areas of mutual recognition between the two Schemes.

How will this impact a transport operator?

If elements of the two Schemes can be recognised by both Schemes, it may reduce the need for operators who work in other jurisdictions to have a separate audit for each Scheme (i.e. one audit may suffice for both Schemes).

Should the transport operator check the website for approved auditors?

Main Roads has made available a list of Certified WAHVA Auditors via its website at www.mainroads.wa.gov.au. It is recommended to check the list to ensure the auditor is certified to audit the WAHVA Scheme .

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