Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) for Work-Related Driving
Vehicles used for work are a workplace. We help organisations manage risk, meet duties and keep people safe on the road with practical, on-road coaching and clear systems aligned to Australian WHS requirements.
Your OH&S Duties for Work Driving
If employees drive for work, you must manage those risks so far as is reasonably practicable under WHS law. For road transport, **Chain of Responsibility (CoR)** also applies — everyone who influences a driving task shares responsibility. Day-to-day, that means getting the following essentials right:
✔ Safe vehicles & loads
Fit-for-purpose, roadworthy vehicles with defects managed, servicing up to date, and loads restrained legally and correctly for every trip.
✔ Information, instruction & training
Clear procedures, route/site rules, plus practical training & assessment (defensive driving, load restraint, towing, minibus) to perform tasks safely in real-world conditions.
✔ Supervision, competency & checks
Set expectations, verify competency, monitor performance and incident trends, and act on findings (e.g., refresher coaching, updated controls).
✔ Risk management & review
Identify driving risks (fatigue, distraction, journey, environment), implement controls, and review after incidents or changes so controls keep working.
Chain of Responsibility — who must do what
Note: general guidance only — always check your WHS regulator’s current requirements for your jurisdiction.
Key Pieces of a Safe Driving System
A robust program blends policies, people and practical skills. These components work together to reduce risk and demonstrate compliance.
Policy, Roles & Reporting
Clear responsibilities for managers, supervisors and drivers; escalation paths and incident reporting that lead to action.
Driver Selection & Induction
Licence and medical checks, route familiarisation and safe-driving expectations set from day one.
Training & Competency
On-road coaching for key risks: defensive driving, load restraint, towing and minibus operation — with assessment and refreshers.
Journey & Schedule Management
Routes, timing and weather; controls for remote, night or higher-risk travel; scheduling that avoids time pressure.
Vehicle Standards & Maintenance
Fit-for-purpose selection, pre-starts, defect reporting and preventative maintenance with close-out tracking.
Fatigue & Distraction Management
Workload, breaks and fitness-for-duty; mobile-phone policy, in-cab tech settings and learning after incidents.
How Driver Development Australia Can Help
We partner with safety, fleet and operations teams to build practical, defensible programs that work on the road — not just on paper.
Program review & CoR gap analysis
Independent review of policies, procedures, records and controls against WHS/CoR obligations with a clear action plan.
Policies, procedures & driver handbook
Simple, usable documents for drivers and leaders — tailored to your vehicles, depots and operations.
Risk assessment & journey planning
Route and task risk profiling, scheduling controls, remote/night-work guidance and practical checklists.
On-road coaching & assessment
Defensive driving, load restraint, trailer towing and minibus operation — assessed competency with refreshers.
Competency & records
Assessment tools and training records that support audit readiness and insurance requirements.
Monitoring & improvement
Incident trend reviews, post-incident coaching and targeted interventions that reduce collisions and claims.
Training that Supports OH&S Compliance
Defensive Heavy Vehicle Training
On-road coaching to reduce incidents for truck & heavy vehicle operators.
Driver Awareness & Minibus
Practical coaching and classroom content for safer, more confident driving.
Ready to Strengthen Your OH&S for Driving?
Let’s tailor a program to your vehicles, routes and operational risks.