CoR practical guide — Make a safety action work
Use this guide to turn a concern into a practical improvement. Involve the people doing the task and those who can provide resources or change the process.
Follow the action through
| Stage | Questions to answer |
|---|---|
| Identify | What activity creates the risk, who could be harmed and what can this business influence or control? |
| Control | Can the risk be eliminated? If not, which reasonably practicable controls minimise it in this task? |
| Assign and resource | Who owns the action, what do they need and when must it be completed? |
| Implement | Has the equipment, procedure, training or booking arrangement actually changed? |
| Verify | What observation or evidence shows the control is being used and reducing the risk? |
| Communicate and improve | Who needs to know, what remains open and when will the result be reviewed? |
Example: repeated incorrect pallet labels
Correct the immediate label and hold release if needed. Then check the source product data and labelling process, assign the correction and verify later consignments. Closing a report before checking the result can leave the original cause in place.
Use reports as decision information
Look at recurring delays, load discrepancies, equipment faults, near misses and driver concerns. A zero-incident report does not prove controls work if people are reluctant to report. Escalate unresolved risk and the decision needed from management.
Accreditation is a separate assessment
The primary duty applies independently of voluntary accreditation. An accredited operator must also meet its applicable scheme standards and conditions. This training and a generic action register do not establish compliance with the complete Safety Management System Standard.
References: Heavy Vehicle National Law, Master Code of Practice 2026, Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme tiers. Reading reviewed 17 October 2026. Check the law and conditions for the operating jurisdiction and task.
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