As of October 2018

Chain of Responsibility and heavy vehicle safety

The heavy vehicle supply chain plays an important role
in supporting safe, reliable road transport for all
road users.
For at least the last two decades the people and
businesses that make up the heavy vehicle supply
chain have had specific legislative obligations. These
obligations are commonly referred to as the Chain of
Responsibility (CoR).
What’s new?
On 1 October 2018, CoR laws were amended to
align more closely with workplace health and safety
provisions. This means that all parties in the chain must
reduce risks related to the safety of transport tasks.
Previously, parties in the chain were usually held
responsible only once a breach by a driver had been
detected. Although the laws have changed, they still
only apply to activities that a person or business has
responsibility for and could influence.
In other words, no one will be liable for breaches they
cannot control.
Am I part of the heavy vehicle supply chain?
Any time you or your business sends or receives goods
using a heavy vehicle with a gross vehicle mass of
more than 4.5 tonnes, you become part of the supply
chain. You therefore have a shared safety management
responsibility to prevent breaches of the law.
A person may be a party in the supply chain in more
than one way and legal liability can apply to their
actions, inactions and demands. Some roles that can
influence heavy vehicle safety include loading manager,
consignee, operator, consignor, scheduler, packer,
loader, employer, executive officer and prime contractor.