Thursday, 14 December 2023
Austroads has published two new guidelines to aid with incident response vehicle design and procurement, and the use of truck-mounted attenuators in incident response.
The new publications provide guidance on the models, types and design specifications of incident response vehicles, and guidance on when and how truck-mounted attenuators and other attenuator vehicles should be used in incident response scenarios.
Effective and timely incident response helps road managers deliver better safety and improved network performance. However, the first responders to incidents work in a high-risk environment.
‘The fatality rate for first responders is 1.5 times higher than the national workplace fatality rate. It is critical that we improve the safety of all people involved in roadway incident response,’ said Amy Naulls, Austroads Transport Network Operations Program Manager.
The research underpinning the guidelines identified best practices in vehicle design, manufacture, procurement, and use. The researchers consulted with stakeholders and examined literature from Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
The practical information provided in both guidelines serves as a valuable resource for all stakeholders involved in incident response, contributing to a harmonised and safer working environment for incident response teams and road workers.
"This guidance will help create a safer environment for incident response teams and road workers while still allowing practitioners to respond to differing local needs," added Naulls.
Austroads encourages industry professionals and stakeholders to provide feedback on the guidelines, fostering a collaborative effort to further refine and enhance these critical resources. The feedback window is open until June 1, 2024.
The guidelines can be downloaded from the links below:
Guidelines for the Design and Procurement of Incident Response Vehicles
Guidelines for the Use of Truck-Mounted Attenuators in Incident Response
Webinar
Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, 5 March 2024 with Narelle Haworth, Ashim Debnath and Drew Gaynor, for an overview of the project, including the findings of the literature review, results of the stakeholder consultations and guideline development.
No charge but registration is essential. Can’t make the live session? Register and we’ll send you a link to the recording.