A new road transport safety programme is tackling injury and harm across the sector with practical online tools and resources to help operators reduce workplace risk.
The HARMfree Transport and Logistics Online Portal is supported by transport bodies New Zealand Trucking Association (NTA) and National Road Carriers (NRC).
The programme is designed to improve workplace safety and worker well-being in a language and style practical for the transport and logistics sector.
It’s supported by a steering group of industry stakeholders, health and safety professionals, and transport and logistics operators.
The experts provide guidance and contribute resources and ideas to the programme, ensuring that the content is reliable and can be effectively implemented throughout workplaces.
Industry partners Success Formula, Fit For Duty, and AutoSense have also collaborated on the initiative and funding from the ACC Injury Prevention Grant has helped accelerate the programme.
From July 2022 to June 2023, WorkSafe recorded 14 fatalities across the transport, postal and warehousing sector. For the period January to June this year, there have already been nine workplace fatalities in the sector.
“In our view that’s 14 families too many who have lost a parent, child, or partner,” NTA chief executive David Boyce says.
“The HARMfree portal gives the transport industry access to a bespoke programme designed specifically to help reduce these numbers.
“We can’t lose sight of the fact every injury or life lost not only impacts the individual and their family, but it also has a negative flow on effect to the New Zealand economy.
“We are proud to be able to bring HARMfree to our members and the wider transport industry. The portal serves as an excellent platform for connecting with peers, accessing resources and information on good work design, supporting well-being and mental health, and provides a roadmap for engaging with industry training providers,” Boyce says.
NRC chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers says the programme is industry-led and designed.
“HARMfree provides access to a network of health and safety professionals across the industry who can give a helping hand to operators to grow their own knowledge and practices.
“The ultimate goal is to create an industry of safety champions that encourage and support each other to create a safer working environment that excels in H&S and HR best practice,” Tighe-Umbers says.
HARMfree Transport & Logistics Programme
The programme is designed to empower both leaders and workers to instigate behavioural changes in the workplace and manage hazards related to psychosocial harm.
It offers transport and logistics-specific content that addresses the unique challenges faced by the industry, particularly the high number of incidents in and around vehicles.
“Transport and logistics workers often face high-pressure, demanding working conditions, circadian disruption, sleep deprivation, and, in some cases, long periods of isolation, leading to stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue,” Boyce says.
“HARMfree brings all of this together into an easy-to-follow programme, saving time for employers and providing practical, easily implementable information.”
The programme integrates into existing educational engagement programmes, including The Safety MAN Road Safety Truck and the AutoSense #EYESUPNZ campaign.
HARMfree is split into four key focus areas, each practically designed to cultivate a sea of health and safetychampions, including:
- Good Work Design (GWD) in the workplace is essential to help reduce psychosocial harm, increase productivity, and benefit worker well-being. GWD involves designing work tasks, systems, and equipment in a way that optimises workplace health and safety, worker performance, worker well-being, job satisfaction, and business success.
- Well-being is at the heart of the HARMfree Transport programme. A company that champions their workers well-being will result in a better culture, with workers who are happier, focused, more productive, and motivated on the tasks ahead. Focused resources are provided to support mental, physical, social, cultural, and spiritual well-being as well as diversity & inclusion and a range of other areas.
- Training provides companies with a host of benefits. HARMfree provides courses to upskill and empower leaders and workers across a range of training options and providers. Training is essential to regulatory compliance and risk management. The programme helps transport operators reduce the risk of accidents, incidents, injuries, avoid legal liabilities, and promotes a safer, more productive workplace by ensuring staff are properly trained and qualified.
- Connecting and opening lines of communication between H&S Champions provides a platform for knowledge sharing and continuous personal, company and industry improvement. H&S Champions often work independently or wear multiple hats. HARMfree opens access to peers, support groups, events, seminars, webinars, and podcasts.
*Go to harmfreetransport.nz to visit the portal and learn more about the programme.
