Enforceable Undertaking - Northline

​NT WorkSafe has accepted an enforceable undertaking by the Trustee for the Northline Unit Trust (Northline), over an incident in April 2014, when a customer was severely injured by falling freight while a truck was being unloaded at the Gunbalanya service station.

It is alleged Northline failed to comply with health and safety duties under Section 32 of the 'Work Health Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act'.

Northline has committed to spend a minimum of $160,000 improving its health and safety standards, and delivering health and safety initiatives to the heavy vehicle transport industry, and the wider West Arnhem community.

These activities are:

• Engagement of an independent WHS consultant to conduct a major review and upgrade of safety management systems for the Darwin depot and surrounding remote delivery locations as a pilot case. This will be rolled out nationally following Northern Territory implementation.
• Undertaking an external audit of Northline's Darwin safety management system to verify compliance with AS/NZS4801.2001.
• Introduction of new learning and development programs for staff.
• Implementation of a formal external program to verify competency of forklift and heavy vehicle drivers.
• Investigation and communication of best practice options for braking systems, external vehicle cameras and side under run protection to the industry to educate operators about advancements in heavy vehicle safety systems.
• Development and delivery of a Remote Community Heavy Vehicle Awareness Campaign, designed to improve community awareness and safety understanding of heavy vehicles and loading zones used by operators.

The enforceable undertaking is a legally-binding agreement between NT Worksafe and Northline, undertaken as an alternative to prosecution over the incident.

Executive Director of NT Worksafe, Stephen Gelding said the undertaking offered significant and ongoing commitments to achieve improved work health and safety outcomes and compliance beyond what is required by the law.

"The WHS undertaking offers a similar deterrent to a successful legal proceeding and will result in a tangible improvement to safety in the workplace, the heavy vehicle industry and in the West Arnhem community."

NT WorkSafe is monitoring the enforceable undertaking to ensure the activities are implemented and will continue to do so until the undertaking is completely discharged.