NSW mandates rollover control

A new Determination from the NSW EPA will see all of the state's dangerous-goods tankers fitted with roll stability systems by 2019

Road transport operators running dangerous-goods tankers in New South Wales have until 2019 to fit their trailers with roll stability systems, after the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) recently signed a Determination mandating the safety upgrade.

The move comes in the wake of a number of high-profile tanker rollover tragedies in the state, most notably the Cootes Transport incident at Mona Vale in October 2013, and comes after an earlier Determination that ruled that all new dangerous-good tankers built on or after July 1, 2014, be fitted with the safety technology.

According to the NSW EPA's Director of Hazardous Incidents and Environmental Health, Craig Lamberton, the body is blazing a trail in this country in pushing the change through.

"The decision to require retrofitting of rollover control to [dangerous-goods] tanker trailers by January 1, 2019, is an Australian first and fully supported by the National Bulk Tanker Association and the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association.

"Other states had agreed in principle to this initiative in late 2013 but they couldn't agree on the final draft Determination, so the NSW EPA has taken the initiative to make the Determination its own.

"The EPA has been in extensive consultation with the transport industry and the national dangerous goods Competent Authorities Panel on these changes, given that the trailers in question travel across borders and may be licenced in another state."

While the ruling only concerns dangerous-goods tankers in New South Wales, it will of course affect any road transport operator that runs these tankers into the state, even if they're registered elsewhere.

NSW mandates rollover control

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