❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses fatigue management for commercial passenger transport drivers, questioning current regulations and seeking a review to potentially reduce maximum driving hours. The Minister acknowledges concerns but defends the current operating standard focused on adequate rest.
AnsweredQoN 2963Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) if so how are these regulations are applied; (c) if not, how many hours can a driver who transports passengers drive in a single stretch under current regulations; (d) have any complaints been received by the Minister’s office in this regard from drivers who transport passengers, and if so will the Minister provide details; (e) if there is currently no differentiation between the commercial drivers of cargo and passengers, will the Minister initiate a review of current Workplace Safety requirements to ensure that passenger and cargo transport are separated, and to reduce the number of hours that drivers who transport passengers can drive at a single stretch; and (f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
(c) if not, how many hours can a driver who transports passengers drive in a single stretch under current regulations; (d) have any complaints been received by the Minister’s office in this regard from drivers who transport passengers, and if so will the Minister provide details; (e) if there is currently no differentiation between the commercial drivers of cargo and passengers, will the Minister initiate a review of current Workplace Safety requirements to ensure that passenger and cargo transport are separated, and to reduce the number of hours that drivers who transport passengers can drive at a single stretch; and (f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
(d) have any complaints been received by the Minister’s office in this regard from drivers who transport passengers, and if so will the Minister provide details; (e) if there is currently no differentiation between the commercial drivers of cargo and passengers, will the Minister initiate a review of current Workplace Safety requirements to ensure that passenger and cargo transport are separated, and to reduce the number of hours that drivers who transport passengers can drive at a single stretch; and (f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
(e) if there is currently no differentiation between the commercial drivers of cargo and passengers, will the Minister initiate a review of current Workplace Safety requirements to ensure that passenger and cargo transport are separated, and to reduce the number of hours that drivers who transport passengers can drive at a single stretch; and (f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
(f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
(c) if not, how many hours can a driver who transports passengers drive in a single stretch under current regulations; (d) have any complaints been received by the Minister’s office in this regard from drivers who transport passengers, and if so will the Minister provide details; (e) if there is currently no differentiation between the commercial drivers of cargo and passengers, will the Minister initiate a review of current Workplace Safety requirements to ensure that passenger and cargo transport are separated, and to reduce the number of hours that drivers who transport passengers can drive at a single stretch; and (f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
(d) have any complaints been received by the Minister’s office in this regard from drivers who transport passengers, and if so will the Minister provide details; (e) if there is currently no differentiation between the commercial drivers of cargo and passengers, will the Minister initiate a review of current Workplace Safety requirements to ensure that passenger and cargo transport are separated, and to reduce the number of hours that drivers who transport passengers can drive at a single stretch; and (f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
(e) if there is currently no differentiation between the commercial drivers of cargo and passengers, will the Minister initiate a review of current Workplace Safety requirements to ensure that passenger and cargo transport are separated, and to reduce the number of hours that drivers who transport passengers can drive at a single stretch; and (f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
(f) if the number of hours that a commercial driver who transports passengers will be reduced to a maximum of 12 hours in a single day with the appropriate breaks in between, in order to give them the protection of the law in their workplace?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 August 2004
Responded by
Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection
Response time
61 days
(a)-(f) Regulations directed at reducing the risk of fatigue in the commercial transport sector came into effect on 1 July 2003. The Regulations cover drivers, including coach drivers, whose work time:
(i) is more than 60 hours per week; or
(ii) for more than once per week, is more than 10 hours in any 24 hour period; or
(iii) for more than once per week includes the period from midnight to 5 am.
The Regulations are underpinned by an operating standard which, rather than setting maximum daily hours, emphasises opportunities for adequate sleep and rest and includes a requirement that solo drivers cannot drive for more than five hours without a break.
There is no intention to move from a broad operating standard to a maximum daily hours approach. While the operating standard establishes some upper limits for working hours these should not be considered as standard operating practice. The general duty of care requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 impose a duty on operators to control the risk of fatigue which operators must take into account when determining trip schedules and rosters.
I am not aware of specific complaints received from drivers who transport passengers, though a number of drivers have expressed their concern about the impact of working long hours.
(i) is more than 60 hours per week; or
(ii) for more than once per week, is more than 10 hours in any 24 hour period; or
(iii) for more than once per week includes the period from midnight to 5 am.
The Regulations are underpinned by an operating standard which, rather than setting maximum daily hours, emphasises opportunities for adequate sleep and rest and includes a requirement that solo drivers cannot drive for more than five hours without a break.
There is no intention to move from a broad operating standard to a maximum daily hours approach. While the operating standard establishes some upper limits for working hours these should not be considered as standard operating practice. The general duty of care requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 impose a duty on operators to control the risk of fatigue which operators must take into account when determining trip schedules and rosters.
I am not aware of specific complaints received from drivers who transport passengers, though a number of drivers have expressed their concern about the impact of working long hours.
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