Safety by design Fleet Communications NEC Australia au.nec.com
Communications and workplace safety The use of communications tools while driving is a well-documented workplace risk for fleet vehicle operators in Australia and one that is likely to come into greater focus as state governments implement the Model Work Health and Safety Act introduced across Australia in January 2012. The Act, designed to harmonise health and safety laws across jurisdictions, has extended the requirements for organisations and their officers to ensure the safety of workers to include vehicles as a workplace. Impact on fleet organisations For many organisations operating vehicle fleets, communications plays an important role in productivity. However, several concepts introduced under the new laws mean that fleet communications is likely to gain importance in determining the safety of the vehicle as a workplace. Any consideration of fleet safety compliance will need to factor in what is reasonably practicable to have avoided an incident, as well as what steps could have been taken to minimise or eliminate the risk of harm. For Victoria, which already applies the test of reasonable practicability to fleet and road safety, this means understanding what the potential hazards are, their likelihood of occurring, and whether it could lead to an injury. 1 1. http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/91b8fc004071f37b936cdfe1fb554c40/safe_driving_web.pdf?mod=ajperes 2
Occupational Health and Safety In short, it requires those with a duty of care, employers and their officers, to maintain detailed knowledge of workplace risks, the state of the vehicle, and whether or not personnel are equipped with information about safety features. A key aspect to achieving improvements in this field is having the ability to document and monitor the health of the vehicle and ensure drivers avoid fatigue. Research based on NSW Roads and Traffic Authority crash data has shown that fleet drivers face a far higher risk of accidents and injury than vehicles for personal use. 2 Despite Australia s ban on using mobile phones while driving, the pressure to save time meant that many fleet operators continued to do so, or engage in other risky behaviours such as checking maps or adjusting radio equipment, while driving. Without the correct mobile communications platform, for example a mounted touchscreen that helps avoid the need for interaction while driving or software that manages switching between wireless networks, WorkSafe Victoria insists that the safest option for drivers is to pull over. Needless to say, the latter option comes with an overhead to productivity, but it is unavoidable if the workforce is not equipped with tools that include safety by design. Due diligence measures under Australia s Model OHS laws also mean regulators can expect that organisations are able to display what steps they have taken to improve safety, even in the absence of an incident, placing a greater emphasis on positive steps the organisation takes to avoid risks rather than reactions after an incident. Liability for ensuring ongoing improvements are documented under the law also falls on officers of the organisation. Research based on NSW Roads and Traffic Authority crash data has shown that fleet drivers face a far higher risk of accidents and injury than vehicles for personal use. While the laws may mean change for some organisations, it also presents an opportunity to redesign and automate business processes to meet safety requirements and improve efficiency. 2. http://www.monash.edu.au/miri/research/reports/muarc232.pdf 3
Fleet communications requirements A well-designed fleet communications platform should provide a fleet manager with the tools to locate vehicles and monitor their condition through the use of telemetry data in real-time. Without communications in the business operational area, loan worker safety is significantly compromised. This is a common occurrence for fleet operators that rely on a single network, such as 3G that may not cover their operational area. Fortunately in Australia, fleet operators can leverage several different wireless networks, including UHF or VHF radio, and short burst data over satellite. While manual solutions for multiple networks have existed for some time, a communications platform that includes safety by design features ensures that drivers are not forced or encouraged to engage in distracting and risky behaviour, and that loan workers can send an emergency duress call, no matter where they are. Above: Fleet operators in Australia can utilise multiple networks such as 3G, UHF/VHF Radio and Satellite to provide reliable voice and data coverage across urban, rural and remote environments. NEC s Mobile Access Controller (MAC) solution NEC Mobility Solutions address safety and business needs, enabling the business to meet compliance and optimise fleet voice and data communications to improve performance. NEC s Mobile Access Controller (MAC) platform, for example, improves safety outcomes by extending communications coverage to the business s operational area, providing vehicle location, driver performance monitoring and reporting. 4
By extending communications beyond the vehicle, the MAC ensures remote workers can send a duress signal using any available network, including satellite, where required. With safety at the core of a business s fleet communications strategy, the business is positioned to meet compliance and focus on operational excellence. By extending communications beyond the vehicle, the MAC ensures remote workers can issue a duress signal using any available network, including satellite, where required. For more information, visit au.nec.com, email contactus@nec.com.au or call 131 632 About NEC Australia. NEC Australia is a leading technology company, delivering a complete portfolio of ICT solutions and services to large enterprise, small business and government organisations. We deliver innovative solutions to help customers gain greater business value from their technology investments. NEC Australia specialises in information and communications technology solutions and services in multi-vendor environments. Solutions and services include: IT applications and solutions development, unified communications, complex communications solutions, network solutions, display solutions, identity management, research and development services, systems integration and professional, technical and managed services. Whitepaper - Fleet Communications: Safety by Design v. 19/02/15 NEC Australia Pty Ltd reserves the right to change product specifications, functions, or features, at any time, without notice. Please refer to your local NEC representatives for further details. Although all efforts have been made to ensure that the contents are correct, NEC shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential or incidental damages resulting from the use of the equipment, manual or any related materials. The information contained herein is the property of NEC Australia Pty Ltd and shall not be reproduced without prior written approval from NEC Australia Pty Ltd. Copyright 2015 NEC Australia Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. NEC, NEC logo, and UNIVERGE are trademarks or registered trademarks of NEC Corporation that may be registered in Japan and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Printed in Australia. Note: This disclaimer also applies to all related documents previously published. Australia Corporate Headquarters (Japan) NEC Australia Pty Ltd NEC Corporation NEC au.nec.com Australia Pty Ltd 2012 www.nec.com North America (USA) NEC Corporation of America www.necam.com Asia Pacific (AP) NEC Asia Pacific sg.nec.com Europe (EMEA) NEC Enterprise Solutions www.nec-enterprise.com 5