The NHVR has opened its newly published draft Log Haulage Industry Code of Practice for consultation from the transport and logging industries.

This LHC aims to assist industry to improve safety outcomes in the transport of logs from forest to mill or port.

It was developed in collaboration with the Australian Forest Products Association and the Australian Forest Contractor’s Association, along with industry representatives and stakeholders who contributed their resources, experience and expertise.

“The LHC is a practical guide of interest to anybody who conducts business in the forestry sector,” says acting chief safety and productivity officer Paul Sariban.

“It supports parties in the Chain of Responsibility to understand and meet their primary duty and other obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

“Consulting with industry associations and stakeholders in the creation of the new LHC was key in allowing us to properly understand how the industry’s operations are conducted, identify any hazards and document or develop effective control measures to eliminate the risks they may cause.”

The draft LHC will be relevant to all those who work with logging and forestry across the transport chain, including those harvest or stockpile logs for transport or load, operate or contract heavy vehicles to transport logs.

It will available for public feedback across the next eight weeks. The NHVR says all feedback received from any stakeholder within the logging sector will be considered as part of the assessment process to determine whether the Code is suitable for registration.

“The code also assists businesses to assess training needs for drivers and other workers,” Paul says.

“Like all heavy vehicle drivers, drivers of log haulage vehicles must comply with numerous obligations under the HVNL, including loading requirements, mass and dimension requirements, and fatigue management.

“Additionally, log haulage drivers confront particular challenges operating off-road or on primitive dirt roads, in all weather and with vehicles loaded near to their maximum capacity. High-quality on-going training must be provided to ensure that drivers are sufficiently skilled to carry out these operations safely and efficiently.”

You can access the draft LHC here, and provide feedback to the NHVR here.