ACC, Tranzqual ITO and the Road Freight Safer Industry group has developed DriverSafe, an introductory health and safety induction training programme. The purpose of the training is to standardise basic induction training in the industry, giving comfort to the industry and its customers that operators/drivers in the industry have been properly inducted into health and safety.
Who can deliver the training?
The Safer Industry group has identified three options to deliver the training:
- NZQA registered training providers (PTE/Poly);
- Independent assessors; and
- Internal transport company trainers.
To ensure a high quality of training at all times some specific requirements are set for each option. The explicit purpose is to make the training as accessible as possible, without compromising quality.
To learn more about DriverSafe training, please read the frequently asked questions below. You can also find information about the training at www.tranzqual.org.nz (external link).
For information on who can deliver DriverSafe training, please see Tranzqual’s list of approved training providers (external link).
How to become an accredited DriverSafe trainer
Although a number of trainers have already been accredited to deliver the training, it is still possible to become accredited.
For more information about the accreditation requirements of each training option contact Jake Yukich at Tranzqual ITO jake.yukich@tranzqual.org.nz.
Frequently asked questions: DriverSafe passport training
- What is DriverSafe passport?
- Why is this important?
- Who is DriverSafe intended for?
- What is the training about?
- Who has developed the training programme?
- Is this training compulsory in the industry?
- How long is the training?
- Who administers and provides the training?
- What are the requirements to attend?
- What do I get when I have done the training?
- Why is a DriverSafe Passport so important?
- How do I get the NZQA credits?
- Do I have to hook on to the NZQA system?
- What are the benefits of NZQA credits then?
- How much does it cost to register NZQA credits?
- Is this the same as Site Safe’s Passport training?
- How much will DriverSafe training cost my employer or me?
- Will I have to do both Site Safe Passport and DriverSafe Passport training?
- How often will I need to do refresher training?
- How do I learn more about DriverSafe?
1. What is DriverSafe passport?
It is an introductory health and safety training programme specifically developed for the road transport industry. It mainly concentrates on hazards around a stationary vehicle known as ‘out of cab’ hazards.
2. Why is this important?
We all know driving a vehicle is very dangerous – in 2008 road accidents killed 366 people, many of them related to the road transport industry. In 2008 police reported crashes involving trucks killed 53 people and a further 884 were injured.
But not many people are aware how dangerous our industry is when the vehicle is not moving. In 2007/2008 ACC received 1,312 claims for injuries caused by ‘out of cab’ hazards. A further 1,296 workers have been on ACC for longer than a year.
These injuries are often very serious – ACC spent $24 million in that year alone on the rehabilitation of injured workers.
3. Who is DriverSafe intended for?
Any person who works in the road transport industry – truck drivers, couriers and even people who work in warehouse yards, loading and unloading vehicles. Nobody is excluded – if you think you will benefit from the training, you’re more than welcome to do the training!
4. What is the training about?
The training starts off by looking at what hazards are and what to do when you spot a hazard. It also deals with what to do when an incident happens – how to report and prevent it from happening again.
It then progresses to looking at specific hazards associated with the industry – things like loading and unloading, manual handling (lifting and carrying heavy objects), falls and fatigue.
DriverSafe is intended to be an introductory training programme only. However, it covers some of the most significant hazards around your vehicle.
5. Who has developed the training programme?
The programme was developed in 2004 by ACC and Tranzqual ITO, in close co-operation with representatives from transport companies.
In 2008 the course material was revised into plain, easy-to-understand language. The course delivery was also changed, to make the course more interactive and the concepts easier for you to understand.
6. Is this training compulsory in the industry?
The Health and Safety in Employment Act requires employers, ‘person who controls a workplace’ and principals (people who engage contractors) to provide induction training to those they control. DriverSafe is an example of induction training.
This does not however mean DriverSafe is the only training available and is not compulsory. Each organisation could develop its own training. The advantage of using DriverSafe is that it covers basic induction training (further site-specific training may be necessary).
7. How long is the training?
The training will last between four and five hours, depending on the needs of the group.
8. Who administers and provides the training?
While Tranzqual ITO manages the process, the training is delivered by a number of accredited training providers (external link) nationwide. These training providers have met a range of criteria and have been trained by Tranzqual to deliver the training. They have to follow strict quality control measures.
These independent training providers advertise the specific training courses they offer in a specific geographical area. If any transport operator wants to determine where and when a course will be presented in its area, it’s best to contact the training provider in your area.
Employers with internal trainers are able to present DriverSafe training internally. To ensure high quality standards, the internal trainers will have to meet specific quality standards – for more information, please contact www.tranzqual.org.nz (external link).
9. What are the requirements to attend?
None. Any person who is interested in the training is welcome to attend.
10. What do I get when I have done the training?
Participants will gain two forms of recognition:
- They will receive an ID card with their photo on, confirming they have successfully completed the DriverSafe training. This will enable them to prove that they have done the training.
- They will – after they have successfully completed a workplace assignment – gain four NZQA credits and will be hooked onto the NZQA framework. More about NZQA credits below.
11. Why is a DriverSafe Passport so important?
For a number of reasons. It may increase the holder’s chances of gaining employment or appointment as a subcontractor if the vehicle operator can prove he/she has completed the industry’s official health and safety induction training programme.
DriverSafe will tell employers and principals if a new employee or subcontractor had any prior health and safety training. This in turn may indicate to the employer/principal what induction a new employee/subcontractor may need.
The DriverSafe Passport may be accepted by construction and other industries as proof that the vehicle operator has been trained in health and safety, removing the need for the driver to do other training programmes. For more information, refer to questions 15 and 16 below.
12. How do I get the NZQA credits?
The trainer will provide the details of the additional assessment that the person needs to complete in the workplace. The person then returns this assessment to the trainer, who will then assess it and if the person meets the standards, arrange with Tranzqual to assist with registering of the credits.
It is not hard – ask the trainer, s/he will be able to make it quite easy.
13. Do I have to register with the NZQA system?
Yes. Completion of the workplace assessment will enhance a participant’s learning of the concepts obtained in the DriverSafe course. On successful completion of this, s/he will qualify for the four NZQA credits.
When the person registers the credits, and if s/he is already registered with NZQA, registering the DriverSafe credits will be easy and cheap.
If the person is not as yet registered, the training provider will help the participant get ‘hooked on’ the NZQA framework. There will be no charge to the participant to do this.
14. What are the benefits of NZQA credits then?
Improving qualifications not only improves the chances of getting a job; it also creates new career opportunities. Registering the four credits may in future enable the person to use these credits towards any qualification that includes this particular standard:
Id. |
Title |
Level |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
17602 |
Apply hazard identification and risk assessment procedures in the workplace |
3 |
4 |
The person may not want to use the credits immediately, but at a later stage. The credits will remain there until you need them.
15. How much does it cost to register NZQA credits?
Any person only has to register with NZQA once. They then remain on NZQA’s system for any future credits they may want to register.
The credit registration and the NZQA hook-on fee are both arranged at no cost to the participant.
16. Is this the same as Site Safe’s Passport training?
No, DriverSafe is different in a number of ways. Firstly, DriverSafe is specifically aimed at the hazards associated with a vehicle: loading and unloading, interacting with a forklift used to unload your vehicle, etc. Site Safe concentrates on hazards more directly related to construction, supermarkets, etc.
Another difference is that Site Safe Passport is required by many construction companies as a requirement to enter their sites. DriverSafe may or may not meet this requirement (see the next question).
Furthermore, DriverSafe achieves four NZQA credits, while Site Safe Passport does not achieve any credits.
17. How much will DriverSafe training cost my employer or me?
It will depend on the specific training provider you choose. It is not the intention of Tranzqual to prescribe how much a training provider could charge – it will be left open to competition in the market to determine this. ACC and Tranzqual will however subsidise the training costs, hopefully limiting the cost to between $40 and $70 per participant.
To reiterate, the figures mentioned are indicative only. The individual training provider will determine the cost. You may want to shop around for the best prices. All registered training provider’s details are listed under approved training providers (external link).
18. Will I have to do both Site Safe Passport and DriverSafe Passport training?
The individual construction and supermarket companies will decide this. Construction companies have been approached and informed of DriverSafe, indicating that it’s more appropriate health and safety training for vehicle operators entering their premises/sites. But the ultimate decision will remain the responsibility of the construction company or supermarket. To date, no one has reported being turned down when presenting their DriverSafe passport.
19. How often will I need to do refresher training?
The initial DriverSafe Passport will expire after five years.
20. How do I learn more about DriverSafe?
The initial contact should be with Tranzqual. Details of the training, where to find training providers, how to register for training, etc. will be included on their website: www.tranzqual.org.nz (external link).
You are also welcome to contact the Tranzqual ITO – DriverSafe Programme Manager, Jake Yukich at (09)9156172, on 08004QUALS (0800478257) outside of Auckland or by email at jake.yukich@tranzqual.org.nz.
Furthermore, you could also approach your industry association or the Road Transport Forum (RTF) – this is an industry initiative and all these organisations are working actively to support DriverSafe. The respective websites are:
Road Transport Forum NZ (RTF) (external link)
New Zealand Road Transport Associations (RTA) (external link)
National Road Carriers Inc (NRC) (external link)
NZ Trucking Association (external link)
Last updated: 8July2009