Castor Audit & Advisory

14/05/2022

💥Workplace Health and Safety Management Systems💥

A workplace health and safety management system is a set of policies, procedures and plans that systematically manages health and safety at work and can help to minimise the risk of injury and illness from workplace operations.

Well-designed policies and procedures help organisations comply with work health and safety legislation and regulations.

Contact Castor to discuss how we can help your business establish and maintain an effective health and safety management system.

24/04/2022

Did you know that if you drive a vehicle with a GVM (gross vehicle mass) of more than 4.5 tonnes you're also a heavy vehicle operator and you must comply with the Heavy Vehicle National Law?

Below is an example of a VERY poorly loaded light to medium heavy vehicle. ⚠️The obvious danger here is vehicle stability and handling, and the load shifting or falling off and impacting other road users.

Please refer to the Load Restraint Guide 👉 https://bit.ly/3jZKnb9 or our Regulatory Advice for light to medium heavy vehicle drivers 👉 https://bit.ly/3MmhK47

Photo credit 📸: 7 NEWS Gold Coast

07/10/2021

One of the most effective methods to satisfy your safety responsibilities under the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) and the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) is to implement a Safety Management System (SMS).

An effective strategy to controlling safety hazards is at the heart of any excellent SMS. This involves being able to identify risks, assess how they could affect your organisation, what risk controls are in place, whether further treatments are needed, and monitoring to ensure everything is operating properly.

Continuous improvement and change management are crucial continuing activities that may help businesses manage current and new safety concerns.

Contact Castor to discuss how our safety management systems can help your business meet its responsibilities under CoR and the HVNL.

28/09/2021

Users of the Registration Checker app can now check for primary producer concessions across all eastern states and South Australia.

Read more here 👉 www.nhvr.gov.au/registration
Or watch the video here 👉 https://bit.ly/39JpL1W

26/09/2021

In early 2022, all Western Australian workplaces will come under modernised work health and safety (WHS) laws. The new laws are largely based on the national model WHS Act used in other states and territories (except Victoria), so companies will have similar obligations and requirements across Australia.

Key features of the WHS Act include:

• Duties of care for persons who influence the way work is carried out, as well as the integrity of products used for work, including the providers of WHS services;
• The new offence of industrial manslaughter, which provides substantial penalties where a failure to comply with a WHS duty causes the death of an individual; and
• Reporting requirements for ‘notifiable incidents’ such as the serious illness, injury or death of persons and dangerous incidents arising out of the conduct of a business or undertaking.

Contact Castor to discuss how our safety management solutions can help your business meet its duties and responsibilities under WHS laws.

09/05/2021

The has highlighted the importance of ongoing heavy vehicle safety education within the industry following its first successful Supervisory Intervention Order (SIO) in Victoria.

The matter related to the intercept of a heavy vehicle in March 2020 where the driver failed to comply with loading and dimension requirements under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Given the seriousness of the incident, the Magistrate issued a fine and granted an SIO for the driver to complete a load restraint course within 12 months.

Read more here 👉 https://bit.ly/3h2z3uU

09/04/2021

Castor Audit & Advisory provides a full range of Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) consulting services, including the creation of industry and regulatory compliant HVNL management plans, as well as auditing of current management plans, advising on HVNL enforcement, and educating industry stakeholders on HVNL awareness initiatives.

21/12/2020

Latest updates about COVID-19 for the heavy vehicle industry

Please be aware that a number of states have introduced restrictions on travel related to the outbreak in the Greater Sydney Region, Central Coast and Wollongong Local Government areas.

Freight movements are largely classified as essential, though drivers may need to carry border passes when leaving NSW.

Page current as of 10am Monday 21 December 2020 The information below is specific to the heavy vehicle industry. It is sourced from, and verified by, the relevant state or territory governments. Please follow the links provided for more detail on the specific requirements. Please note, any applicati...

04/11/2020

Safe Work Australia is looking for graduates who want to make a difference and help us shape healthy, safe and productive workplaces.

Applications are now open for the graduate program commencing in January 2021 in Canberra.

https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/news/apply-now-safe-work-australia-2021-graduate-program

17/10/2020

08/09/2020

Recently released data from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has shown a significant reduction in heavy vehicle crash fatalities over the 12 months to June 2020.

A quarterly publication tracking counts of fatal crashes that involve heavy vehicles.

13/06/2020

𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮

All drivers must safely slow down to 40km/h as they pass any stationary or slow moving police, emergency or enforcement vehicle with red, blue or magenta lights flashing.

The rule includes NHVR vehicles displaying magenta lights.
It applies to traffic travelling in either direction, unless there’s a dividing barrier between the motorist and the emergency vehicle.