Van Safety An Oh&s Issue

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11th August 2009, 11:08am - Views: 736









MEDIA RELEASE

11 August 2009



VAN SAFETY AN OH&S ISSUE

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has called on Australia’s large

companies and fleet

managers to examine State and Federal Occupational Health and

Safety legislation to ensure they are providing a safe workplace in the light commercial vans

they buy for employees.

Following the release of star safety ratings for a number of light commercial vehicles,

ANCAP, Australia’s leading independent vehicle safety advocate, voiced concerns that

occupants of some vans are at a higher risk of serious injury in accidents

than the safer-

rated models.

ANCAP Chair, Lauchlan McIntosh, said today that OH&S legislation clearly stipulates the

responsibility of employers to ensure a safe working environment for employees.

“ANCAP has rated 9 of these light commercial vans and to date we have not had one with

the top 5-star rating – some recording a safety rating as low as 1 star,” Mr McIntosh said.

“Light commercial vehicles don’t have to meet the same Australian vehicle safety

regulations as cars, and this shows up in ANCAP rating results.

“Real-world accident statistics show the risk of serious or fatal injury is halved in a 4 or 5

star vehicle compared with a 1 or 2 star rated vehicle –

this means that one in every two

fatalities in a poorly performing van could be prevented if the occupant had been in a 4 or 5

star vehicle.

“Given the wide disparity in ANCAP results for commercial vehicles, it is no longer sufficient

to use compliance with these regulations as a benchmark for safety.  

“Clearly some vehicles are much safer than others and, in the event of a serious crash, fleet

managers may have to justify why they did not choose a model with a higher safety rating if

they decide to ignore the ANCAP safety ratings and purchase a model with a poor rating. 

“We are concerned for the safety of drivers and passengers of these vehicles in the event of

a collision and we believe there may be a point in law for ensuring these vehicles are safe

for workers and, indeed, all road users.

“Our understanding of the OH&S principles is that there is an obligation on companies and

fleet managers to ensure a safe workplace.  

People Transport Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) 2 image



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“Vans certainly constitute a workplace under the legal definition.  We would urge fleet

purchasers to examine the legislation and then factor safety into their fleet purchasing

policies.”

For a full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, including more commercial vehicles, and


ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, all Australian state

governments, the New Zealand government, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission,

NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.  


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Contact:

Lauchlan McIntosh


ANCAP Chair


0418 424 886



Allan Yates



ANCAP


0421 150 229






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