A joint operation between the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), South Australia (SA) Police, the Australian Border Force (ABF) and SafeWork SA last month uncovered a raft of concerning safety issues including faulty brakes, steering issues and exploitation of migrant workers.
NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said more than half of all heavy vehicles stopped by the NHVR as part of Operation Vigilant were found to be non-compliant - with offences ranging from self-clearing defects to major violations.
"NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) conducted 75 targeted intercepts over the course of the two days, checking for compliance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), including mass and dimension, load restraint and driver fatigue," Mr Salvati said.
"Unfortunately, there were 38 defect notices issued throughout the operation, three of which were classified as major, with the most prevalent offences being mechanical defects such as faulty brakes, and issues with steering and suspension, and wheels, tyres and hubs.
"SCOs also issued one official warning and three infringements, including for a substantial fatigue breach, serving as a clear reminder for drivers to ensure they aren't driving tired.
"It's disappointing to see drivers and operators doing the wrong thing, especially with more than 179 lives lost in crashes involving a heavy vehicle last year - by failing to maintain your vehicle or adhere to work and rest requirements, you are not only jeopardising your own safety, but the safety of all other road users.
"To ensure drivers understood how to comply with their safety obligations, SCOs provided education during 24 of the intercepts conducted, guided by the NHVR's inform, educate and enforce approach.
"We encourage industry to access the NHVR website, where we have a wide range of safety and compliance related resources available to help with education, including guidelines, training videos and contacts for support."
Mr Salvati said Operation Vigilant marked the first time the four agencies had been involved in conducting a local operation, all working towards a common goal of heavy vehicle, driver and community safety.
"Operation Vigilant was a significant collaborative effort by the NHVR, SA Police, the ABF and SafeWork SA, with all agencies working together to ensure the safety of our roads and to protect both drivers and the wider community," he said.
"The operation was undertaken at Monteith Checking Stations and saw 32 cross agency officers conduct in-depth compliance checks in relation to heavy vehicle and bus compliance, work conditions and workplace safety.
"Through this joint effort, a range of safety concerns were addressed including, mechanical breaches, driver fatigue, drug and alcohol offences and work conditions.
"Operation Vigilant demonstrates the commitment of all agencies involved to enhancing road safety - by working together, sharing resources and expertise, we can reduce road trauma and save lives.
"This unified approach is pivotal to driving meaningful change and delivering improved safety outcomes - not just for industry, but all those who use our roads."
SA Police Acting Inspector Tiffany Gray said, "South Australia Police will continue to have a coordinated approach to heavy vehicle regulation and welcome the support of our partner agencies.
"Operation Vigilant and our daily operations will continue to ensure the compliance of heavy vehicle drivers for not just their safety but all road users."
ABF officers from the Department of Home Affairs conducted checks relating to migrant worker exploitation, identifying four individuals of concern.
Among them were two unlawful non-citizens and two individuals suspected of breaching visa work conditions. As a result, one person was detained, while another was granted a bridging visa to facilitate their departure from the country.
It is a criminal offence to employ, refer or contract a non-citizen who doesn't have the right to work in Australia.
SafeWork SA Director Compliance and Enforcement Brett Pfeffer said the operation was important in monitoring the heavy vehicle industry's compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act.
"Our Inspectors issued 75 improvement notices relating to breaches of the WHS Act. These ranged from defective, poorly maintained or absent fire extinguishers and first aid kits to non-compliant vehicle maintenance and load restraint maintenance.
"A further five notices were issued in relation to carrying dangerous substances.
"The number of notices issued exceeded our expectations, which indicates the heavy vehicle industry has more work to do to comply with their WHS obligations in South Australia."
