The Northern Rivers Times
40 RURAL NEWS
February 22, 2024!!!
NHVR launches operation to boost heavy vehicle safety in the construction industry
ABARES Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update In the week ending 14 February 2024, troughs generated showers in the tropics, extending into southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Onshore winds brought showers to the coastal region of southeast Queensland and New South Wales. A high-pressure system kept elsewhere dry. • Over the coming days, a monsoonal low-pressure system is expected to generate heavy rainfall of up to 300 millimetres in the tropical north. Onshore winds will bring showers to the eastern parts of the country. A high-pressure system will keep much of central and southwestern areas of the country dry. o Rainfall in Queensland and New South Wales will continue to support development of summer crops and pasture growth but dry conditions elsewhere, particularly in Western Australia, will continue to see a decline in soil moisture levels. Significant rainfall in autumn will be required in these areas to support the planting of winter crops. • Globally, variable rainfall during January has led to mixed crop production prospects. o Global production conditions were generally
favourable for maize and soybeans, but variable for wheat and rice. o Global production conditions have generally improved, except for South America, compared to those used to formulate ABARES forecasts of global grain supplies and world prices for 2023-24 in its December 2023 edition of the Agricultural Commodities Report. As a result, global grain production is likely to be higher, but global oilseed production is expected to be lower than that forecast in December. • Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) decreased between 7 February 2024 and 14 February 2024 by 125 gigalitres (GL). Current volume of water held in storage is 18 517 GL. This is 13 percent or 2652 GL less than at the same time last year. • Allocation prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke decreased from $42 on 8 February 2024 to $32 on 15 February 2024. Prices are lower in the Murrumbidgee, regions above the Barmah choke and the Goulburn-Broken due to the binding of the Murrumbidgee export limit, Barmah choke trade constraint, and the Goulburn intervalley trade limit.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is set to launch an on-road targeted operation, focused on mechanical safety and compliance with mass, dimension and loading requirements of heavy vehicles operating in support of the construction sector. NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said the operation will commence this month and run for four weeks across NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, ACT, and TAS. “Throughout the operation, we will prioritise education in the first instance to ensure operators and drivers have a clear understanding of the risks associated with non-compliance during heavy vehicle transport activities in the construction industry, and know how to manage them,” Mr Salvati said. “Drivers and operators should always be practicing safe behaviours, such as implementing a daily check list to ensure the mechanical safety of vehicles, or utilising measuring devices, such as tape measures or height sticks, to confirm the vehicle and its load
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are within allowable dimensions. “Managing safety risks can help prevent injuries and fatalities, avoid financial loss for the business, evade legal sanctions, enhance business reputation, and create a culture where informed safety decisions are made.” Reflecting on last year’s construction focused national operation, Mr Salvati provided insights into the compliance outcomes. “In the last operation, from 1 March to 15 April 2023, the NHVR’s on-road officers inspected more than 1,200 vehicles, and we saw encouraging signs of compliance,” Mr Salvati said. “Overall, 56.4 per cent of heavy construction vehicles were compliant across all HVNL categories, with especially high compliance across mass and loading.
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“The results however, in the mechanical compliance category were indicative of the work we still have to do. “Of the defective components identified, the most serious were in brakes, body and chassis, while others were found in lights and reflectors.” Mr Salvati said the regulator is urging all operators and drivers working in the construction industry to keep safety front of mind. “Heavy vehicle hazards in the construction industry traditionally include loads not being properly restrained, vehicles exceeding mass or dimension limits and of course, the mechanical safety of vehicles, especially heavy rigid truck, and trailer combinations. “These may seem like standard risks, but they are amplified - especially on a construction site - by time pressures, constant loading and
unloading, and the frequency of travel alongside other motorists on major roads and thoroughfares.” Regulatory Advice for managing the risks of heavy vehicle transport activities in the construction industry can be found on the NHVR website: •
Regulatory
Advice for Operators Scan the QR Code below
•
Regulatory
Advice for Contractors Scan the QR Code below
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