Fatigue Management in the Northern Territory
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NT Road Management Fatigue Management Package
Introduction to Package of Resources
- Why was the Fatigue Management Package developed?
- What’s in the Fatigue Management Package?
- How to use this package
- Who should use this package?
- Where to from here?
Why was the Fatigue Management Package developed?
The NT Road Transport Fatigue Management Package has been developed to assist transport operators to implement management systems which meet occupational health and safety obligations under the Work Health Act in relation to driver fatigue. This package has been developed collaboratively by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, the Department of Employment, Education and Training (NT WorkSafe), the Australian Trucking Association NT (ATANT) and tourism industry representatives.
The Northern Territory has been exempted from implementing the National Driving Hours Regulations and has gazetted an occupational health and safety approach to the management of fatigue where operators have an obligation to provide a safe and healthy workplace.
The Territory’s remote operating environment is unique in relation to the distances travelled, the remoteness and lack of facilities or services between major population centres, and climatic extremes. This unique environment demands a flexible approach to the management of transport operations.
The NT has chosen to adopt a performance based approach to fatigue management, focussing on safe outcomes, rather than imposing a prescriptive framework which may not fit many transport operations. This package is designed to give some practical guidance to transport operators so that they can implement the Fatigue Management Code of Practice.
Fatigue Management Code of Practice
In 1998 the Northern Territory Road Transport Fatigue Management Code of Practice (pdf 66kb) was adopted under the Work Health Act. This Code was developed collaboratively by government and industry, and focuses on safe outcomes as a result of appropriate risk assessment, appropriate rest times and driver health best practice.
Implementation of the Code is voluntary, however, obligations under the Work Health Act are mandatory. Operators have the onus of proving that their fatigue management system provides the same level of safety as the approach adopted in the Code.
What’s in the Fatigue Management Package?
The Fatigue Management Package includes samples of documents and models which can be adapted to suit individual operations. The package includes a copy of the Code of Practice and the following documents:
1. Fatigue Management … A guide
This guide breaks a fatigue management system down into parts, and provides operators with a simple method of checking their system to ensure occupational health and safety requirements are met. The guide must be read in conjunction with the Code of Practice.
2. Sample Risk Assessment
The sample risk assessment sheet is based on the guiding principles of the Code of Practice and can be used in the trip planning stage to ensure fatigue is being effectively managed.
The risk assessment should be conducted for each initial regular trip, or a one-off trip. If trips are undertaken following a regular schedule there is no need to undertake a risk assessment for each trip. However, a further risk assessment should be undertaken as part of each review of the fatigue management system, or if operating conditions change, for example, a new driver, or a different driver, is used for a trip, or roads are effected by flooding.
3. Sample Driver’s Diary
The success of a management system hinges on accurate record keeping. Operators should maintain accurate records of driver work and rest schedules and the sample driver’s diary contained in the package is an example of one method of recording this information. Many operators may already use a different recording system and there is no need to duplicate these records. Operators should use a system which meets their needs. It is recommended in the package that these records be maintained for a period of 5 years.
4. Model Fatigue Management Operations Manual
This document is designed as a model fatigue management system to suit operations which have adopted a quality management approach such as ‘TruckSafe’. The manual contains a sample fatigue management policy, forms for the recording of information relating to driver training, medical examinations, and internal review.
5. Model Owner-Driver Fatigue Management System
This model fatigue management system is aimed at smaller owner-driver operations which do not have formal quality management systems in place. The model includes a sample fatigue management policy and uses a straightforward question and answer style to cover other aspects operators need to consider when managing fatigue. The model also incorporates the risk assessment sheet and driver’s diary.
How to use this package
There is no requirement that operators adopt any of the documents contained in this package. However, operators are required to ensure that whatever systems they have in place meet occupational health and safety obligations in relation to the management of fatigue.
If operators currently have records or systems in place which are similar to the sample in this package, they do not need to duplicate or replace these records. For example, many operators may maintain driver’s records similar to the sample driver’s diary in this package.
Who should use this package?
The package is aimed at transport operators, both smaller owner/driver operators and larger companies employing a number of drivers.
The initial package was developed in conjunction with the Australian Trucking Association and was aimed at heavy vehicle freight operations.
However, it is intended that the package should be able to be adapted to meet the needs of other sectors of the transport industry, such as the tourist and commercial passenger vehicle sectors. Consultation with the broad range of industry sectors is continuing.
Where to from here?
Whilst the Code is voluntary, failure to manage the issue of fatigue in the road transport industry is a breach of duty of care of the Work Health Act and can incur a fine of $125,000 for a body corporate or $25,000 for an individual.
Work Health officers may conduct random audits from time to time to ensure adequate fatigue management systems are in place.
The components of the package of resources are continually evolving. It is planned to conduct a review of the code of practice and the resource materials. This will allow operators to provide feedback following the implementation of systems and national developments relating to fatigue management can be taken into account.