Here at Plant Assessor, we’ve previously spoken about people in the industry who don’t believe their trucks need to be risk assessed. We know this is not the case, as there are Australian standards relating to trucks that need to be complied with. The same applies to light vehicles. In this article, we’ll discuss the need to light vehicle risk assessments.
Australian Design Rules (ADRs)
Like with trucks, some people don’t think a risk assessment is required for light vehicles because they are built to the Australian Design Rules (ADRs). Light vehicles, whether newly manufactured or imported second hand, must meet these requirements which cover, among other things, occupant protection, structures, lighting, noise, engine exhaust emissions, and braking. However, as we have discussed previously, just because a car manufacturer meets the Australian Design Rules, does not mean its vehicles also comply with Australian standards and legislation, and that the vehicles don’t become non-compliant over time and with use.
What are some of the standards, regulations and legislation that light vehicles must comply with?
So, seeing as the Australian Design Rules are not the be all and end all when it comes to light vehicle compliance, it begs the question, what are the other standards, legislation and regulations that need to be complied with? The answer is listed below:
Australian standards
International standards
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989
Various state health and safety legislation and regulations, such as the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
I won’t remember all of the requirements that my light vehicles need to comply with!
You don’t need to with Plant Assessor. Your light vehicles will be assessed against all of the relevant legislation, standards and regulations when you complete Plant Assessor risk assessments on your entire fleet. Simply choose the make and model of your light vehicle, answer the yes or no questions and the Machinery Compliance Engine (MCE) will do all the hard work for you, from identifying and rating the risks to defining the risk controls, and helping you monitor for future hazards that may arise.
Complete pre starts on your light vehicle to reduce the risk of major hazards arising
While risk assessments are a great way of detecting hazards on your light vehicles, it’s also important to conduct more regular checks on your light vehicles. This can be achieved by completing a daily pre start check using Plant Assessor’s Pre Start Plus app. Simply log into the app each day, and answer the series of yes or no questions. This will help you to identify any faults that have appeared, and allow you to fix and maintain your light vehicle before a critical hazard emerges.
Get with the strength; use Plant Assessor
Maintaining your light vehicles to ensure they are compliant with all the relevant requirements can be an arduous task, but many Plant Assessor clients have simplified the complexity of light vehicle compliance. Close to 1,400 digital risk assessments have been conducted using Plant Assessor on Toyota Hiluxes alone, while Hiluxes and Holden Colorados are by far the most common vehicles checked over with Pre Start Plus, with more than 55,500 pre starts completed on just those two models combined.
See what the fuss is about and get Plant Assessor to help you manage your light vehicle compliance. Contact our friendly team by calling 1300 728 852 or emailing them at info@assessor.com.au.
Disclaimer: This information is intended to provide general information on the subject matter. This is not intended as legal or expert advice for your specific situation. You should seek professional advice before acting or relying on the content of this information.