Published on Wednesday, 12 February 2025 at 9:52:00 AM
The Shire of Menzies is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its employees, contractors, volunteers and the broader public.
The Shire’s Fleet Safety Policy is designed to promote the safe and efficient operation, maintenance, and management of the Shire’s fleet vehicles with the primary goal being to minimise the risk of incidents, injuries and damages associated with vehicle use while ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
A comprehensive approach to applying the Policy is undertaken to ensure all aspects of fleet management, including vehicle use, maintenance, incident reporting, and driver training is clearly understood. Implementation strategies, initially undertaken to promote and embed the Policy into everyday work-place health and safety, involved all Shire staff and depot crews being notified of the new Policy and all staff being provided with a hard copy. This process now applies to newly recruited staff as part of their induction and onboarding with the Shire.
Other strategies to promote the Policy includes safety training for depot crews and any volunteers who use the Shire’s plant vehicles for example operating a forklift. After successful completion of any training, certificates are issued.
Proactive Safety Management: Take 5 Books
As part of the Shire's commitment to proactive safety management, all depot crew members are now required to use Take 5 books—a simple, yet effective safety tool that encourages individuals to Stop, Look, Assess, and Manage the risks before starting any task.
The Take 5 process requires individuals to take a moment to assess potential hazards before engaging in any work involving Shire fleet vehicles, machinery or equipment. This critical step helps prevent accidents by ensuring that risks are identified and mitigated at the start of the task, rather than reacting to an incident after it occurs.
Timely Vehicle Servicing
In the Shire’s isolated location, one of the key challenges faced is ensuring that the fleet remains safe and operational at all times. Regular vehicle servicing is crucial to maintaining the safety and reliability of vehicles, but the logistics of transporting them to a service centre can be difficult and time-consuming.
To address this, the Shire have taken proactive steps by contracting a reliable service provider from Kalgoorlie to come directly to Menzies and service vehicles on-site. This solution ensures that the Shire stays on top of every vehicle's servicing requirements, minimising any risk associated with delayed or missed maintenance.
Grader Operator Safety in Remote Conditions
In alignment with the Shire of Menzies’ Fleet Safety Policy the recent upgrade to the camp trailer, for the grader operator working in the bush, enhances both safety and well-being. This initiative supports the Policy’s objectives of Vehicle Safety and Driver Competence, ensuring the operator has access to proper facilities for rest, hydration, and recovery during extended shifts in remote locations.
By improving working conditions, the Shire is reducing the risks associated with fatigue and ensuring the operator remains alert and focused, thus enhancing both personal safety and operational efficiency. This upgrade also reflects the Shire’s commitment to Continuous Improvement, as it proactively addresses the needs of staff in the field, further supporting a culture of safety and responsibility in all fleet operations.
For continued effectiveness and relevance of the Policy, the Shire will conduct an annual review or in response to significant incidents, legislative changes or feedback from stakeholders. The review process will include:
- Policy evaluation
- Stakeholder input
- Legislative updates
- Continuous improvement
- Approval and communication
Article photo: Dwayne, one of the Shire’s works crew who has been inducted to the fleet safety training.
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