Safety standards

To meet this standard, the Safety Management System must have at least:

• A procedure that sets out how notifications are to be sent to the Transport Commission if the BSP becomes aware that:
  • an affiliated operator enters or exits the service
  • a person begins or ceases in the role of responsible person for the accreditation
  • a vehicle or driver enters or exits the service
  • the responsible person’s or accredited operator’s contact details changes
  • the type of service changes
  • the driver or responsible person is charged with a serious offence, and
  • the service provided by the BSP stops.
• A procedure for record keeping documenting how records are managed, kept and are readily accessible in a secure place for at least three years, relating to:
  • every previous and current procedure, and documentation to support when and why changes were made
  • notifications to the Transport Commission (Standard 1)
  • the Accreditation Certificate (Standard 1)
  • the National Police Certificate for the responsible person (Standard 1)
  • the training and awareness program (Standard 2)
  • the communication program (Standard 2)
  • the complaints relating to safety that were received and how they were managed (standard 2)
  • the performance of the service and how it was improved (standard 2)
  • the vehicle register (standard 3)
  • the driver register (standard 4)
  • the hazard management documentation (standard 5)
  • the risk management register, and
  • the incident management system, the incident plan, incident reporting, investigations and formal notifications.

Evidence required to demonstrate that the Standard is being met:

• Documents describing:
  • a procedure for notification of a change of circumstance, and
  • a procedure for record keeping
• Records showing that the above procedures are used.

To meet this standard, the Safety Management System must have at least:

• A procedure that sets out the responsibilities of the responsible person and drivers and affiliated operators (taxis only) for promoting safety  and to undergo safety awareness, education or training:
  • when they begin with the service
  • at targeted or scheduled intervals to provide refresher safety training about, or changes to, the Safety Management System, and
  • when there is a change to a procedure in the Safety Management Systems.
• A procedure that sets out when the safety procedures are to be reviewed so they continue to meet the Safety Standards:
  • at targeted or scheduled intervals
  • After an incident or near miss
  • when a customer makes a complaint relating to the safety of the service, including:
    • the availability of the complaint procedures to passengers
    • the receipt and recording of the complaint, and
    • the assessment and resolution of the complaint.
• A procedure that sets out by who and how the safety procedures to be reviewed and the responsibilities to maintain documentation of the new or revised procedures.

Evidence required to demonstrate that the Standard is being met:

• Documents describing:
  • the procedure for training
  • the procedure for awareness and communication
  • the procedure for reviewing procedures, including complaints management, and
  • the procedure for continuous review of the procedures.
• Records showing that the procedures are used.

To meet this standard, the Safety Management System must have at least:

Pre-entry

• A procedure that sets out before an on-demand vehicle can be used to provide the service  it must be:
  • subject to an initial regulatory inspection as required by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles
  • authorised by holding the appropriate registration, including MAIB premium, and
  • given a copy (which may be an electronic copy) of the accreditation certificate  so that the certificate can be prominently displayed or shown.
• A procedure that sets out before a taxi can be used by the service it must be:
  • manufactured less than seven years ago with a 5 star ANCAP or equivalent safety rating
  • installed with the appropriate taxi equipment which is in working order:
    • an approved taxi security camera system (if applicable for the taxi area), and
    • a taximeter which is securely fixed to calculate and display the fare, including any fees, charges or tolls in Australian dollars
  • identified as a taxi with:
    • a roof sign that displays the word taxi, cab, or cabs
    • a roof light which is lit when the taxis available and not lit at other times, and
    • the name, the identifying logo or colours of the taxi service displayed
  • approved by the Transport Commission as a suitable vehicle when used under the authority of a wheelchair accessible taxi licence, and
  • used under the authority of a specific taxi licence with the relevant licence plate for that licence attached to the vehicle.

Monitoring

• A procedure that sets out an on-demand vehicle used for a service must be:
  • authorised by holding the appropriate registration, including MAIB premium, and
  • authorised to operate as a taxi under a specific taxi licence with the relevant licence plate for that licence attached to the vehicle.
• A procedure that sets out  an on-demand vehicle being used for a service must be:
  • the pre-departure inspection of the vehicle before it is used each day or shift, with at least the following being checked:

• presented for inspection as part of the maintenance and repair program in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance standards by a licensed mechanic[1] (Safety Inspections)
• presented regulatory inspection by an authorised inspection station in accordance with the Registrar of Motor Vehicle’s vehicle inspection program (Roadworthiness Inspections)
• a procedure that sets out that a taxi being used the service must:
  • have a working taxi security camera system
  • have a working  taximeter which correctly calculates and displays fares, including any fees, charges or tolls in Australian dollars,
  • have a a taxi licence attached for the specific taxi area that it will providing the service, and
  • If it is a wheelchair-accessible taxi (WAT) that any person who is reliant on a wheelchair who pre-book a WAT is given priority access to the WAT.

Record keeping

• A procedure that sets out the records which must be kept in the vehicle register (which may be held jointly or severally with the registered operator, driver, affiliated operator and BSP) including:
  • an on-demand vehicle’s entry to the service (and when the BSP became aware the vehicle was temporarily not used) and exited the service and recording:
  • the vehicle identifiers (registration number or vehicle identification number)
  • the pre-entry procedures have been met including at least:
    • the date of the initial regulatory inspection, and
    • the date the Commission decided the vehicle was suitable to be used as a taxi or a wheelchair accessible taxi (where applicable).
  • an on-demand vehicle being monitored including at least:
    • the dates on which the registration was to or did expire, and the dates on which the registration was renewed
    • the dates are in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance standards that the vehicle was presented for its safety inspections
    • the dates in accordance with the Registrar of Motor Vehicle’s inspection program that the vehicle was presented for its road worthiness inspection
    • the records of outcomes of pre-departure inspections, maintenance and regulatory inspections are kept, and
    • when the vehicle is being operated as a taxi, the dates on which the taxi security camera and taximeter was tested.
• the names and driver licence numbers of the usual drivers for the vehicle
• the date and type of any hazards (such as vehicle faults) that were identified, assessed and cleared in respect of the vehicle and the period of time the vehicle was not used due to a defect or fault
• the date and nature of any safety risks that were identified, assessed and mitigated in respect of the vehicle, and
• the list of any incident report numbers involving the vehicle.

Evidence required to demonstrate that the Standard is being met:

• Documents describing:
  • the procedures around when a vehicle enters the service
  • the procedures around monitoring a vehicle used for the service
  • the procedure around record keeping
• Records showing that the procedures are used.

To meet this standard, the Safety Management System must have at least:

Pre-entry

• A procedure that sets out before an on-demand driver can be used for the service they must be:
  • authorised by holding a car driver licence and have the:
  • relevant ancillary certificate or
  • if hold an interstate authority, the interstate authority and evidence that the driver has notified the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under Automatic Mutual Recognition
  • given training in the behaviours outlined in the Taxi Industry Code of Conduct
  • given training in the procedures relating to the Safety Management System, and
  • issued with an identity card (which may be electronic).

Monitoring

• A procedure that sets out  an on-demand driver being used for a service must be:
  • to remain authorised by holding a car driver licence and have the:
    • relevant  ancillary certificate or
    • interstate authority under Automatic Mutual Recognition and evidence that the driver has notified the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under Automatic Mutual Recognition
    • given specific training about the Safety Management System, and
    • given specific training about the Code of Conduct (taxis only).

Record keeping

• A procedure that sets out which records must be kept in the driver register (which may be held jointly or severally with the registered operator, driver, affiliated operator and BSP) including:
  • the dates on which the driver entered  and exited the service (and the BSP became aware that the driver was temporarily not used)
  • the driver identifiers including:
    • the driver licence number, type, class and conditions
    • contact details
  • the pre-entry procedures have been met
  • the monitoring procedures have been met
  • information about the incidents and near misses relating to the driver (and the incident investigation number)
  • records of training undertaken by the driver.

Evidence required to demonstrate that the Standard is being met:

• Documents describing:
  • the procedure for a driver which is entering the service
  • the procedures around monitoring a driver used for the service
• Records showing that the procedures are used.

To meet this standard, the Safety Management System must have at least:

• A procedure(s) that sets out everyone involved in the on-demand service is responsible to spot, report and clear a hazard.
• A procedure that sets out what to do when an on-demand vehicle has been detected with a fault or defect by:
  • a person undertaking a pre-departure, safety or regulatory inspection
  • a driver when driving
  • an enforcement officer which led to the issue of an infringement notice, defect or warning notice due to the roadworthiness of the vehicle
  • a person who made a complaint as they witnessed a vehicle being driven with a fault or defect
  • a person who undertook an investigation about a near miss or incident arising out of a vehicle being driven with a fault or defect
• A procedure that sets out what to do when an on-demand driver has been detected demonstrating unsafe behaviour by:
  • an enforcement officer which led to the issue of a traffic infringement notice
  • a person who made a complaint as they witnessed a driver’s behaviour which created a safety hazard which was a near miss or could have led to an incident
  • a person who undertook an investigation about a near miss or incident arising out of the unsafe behaviour
• A procedure that sets out what to do when a passenger has been detected behaving unsafely when using the vehicle.
• A procedure that at sets out the responsibilities about assessing and clearing hazards.

Evidence required to demonstrate that the Standard is being met:

• Documents describing:
  • the procedure(s) for the responsibilities of everyone involved in the on-demand service to identify report, and clear hazards relating to the vehicle and the driver
  • the procedure about managing passenger behaviour
• Records showing that the procedures are used.