Guideline for developing or reviewing training for drivers who transport reportable priority waste | March 2023 Compliance Programs Unit

EPA driver training course requirements

Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

epa.vic.gov.au

Environment Protection Authority Victoria

GPO BOX 4395 Melbourne VIC 3001

1300 372 84

This content is for general information only. Obtain professional advice if you have any specific concern. EPA Victoria has made reasonable effort to ensure accuracy at the ime of publication. Except where noted at epa.vic.gov.au/copyright, all content in this work* is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit creativecommons.org. EPA acknowledges Victoria’s First Nations peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land and water on which we live and work. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present..

Contents

1.	Purpose of this guideline	4

1.1.	Introduction	4

1.2.	Requirements to train drivers who are transporting reportable priority waste	4

2.	Training providers	4

3.	Leaning Outcomes	5

4.	Document retention & refresher requirements	6

5.	Disclaimer	6

6.	Useful References	6

6.1.	Legal Obligations	6

6.2.	Waste Classification	7

6.3.	Use of Waste Tracker Software	7

6.4.	Other considerations	8

6.4.1.	Publication IWRG612.1: Clinical and related waste – operational guidance	8

Purpose of this guideline

Introduction

This document is to assist:

training providers to develop EPA approved training programs for drivers who transport reportable priority waste.

waste transport companies to choose driver training programs that achieve compliance against permission condition PER_WT5 and General Environmental Duty.

A driver training program is EPA approved if it achieves the learning outcomes and competencies listed within this document. There is no requirement to provide training material or courses to EPA for approval. The onus is on the permission holder to ensure the training is adequate.

Transporters can use any training course for their drivers that achieves the learning outcomes and competencies listed within this document. After being trained, drivers must be competent in the areas listed within this document.

Requirements to train drivers who are transporting reportable priority waste

From 1 July 2021, new environmental laws came into effect. The laws focus on the prevention of harm to the environment and human health from pollution and waste.

Anyone conducting a business or an activity that may pose harm to public health or the environment must, as far as reasonably practicable, provide training that complies with the General Environmental Duty (GED). You can find this training requirement in Section 25(4)(e), of the Environment Protection Act 2017 (the Act). [https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/environment-protection-act-2017/005]

Anyone who has an EPA permission to transport reportable priority waste (RPW) must ensure their drivers have completed EPA-approved training. You can find this training requirement in standard EPA permission condition PER_WT5. [https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/permissions/permits/types-of-permits#Rich%20text%202]

Those who fail to appropriately train drivers may face penalties.

Training providers

EPA considers a suitably qualified trainer as:

holding a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, or higher training qualification

provides facilitator notes and supporting documentation after the training

it is preferable if the trainer has first-hand experience in RPW transport.

if training is delivered on-line or via web-based platforms only, training providers must allow time for facilitated group discussion and group learning.

By choosing a qualified training provider, it will enable permission holders to verify the quality of the training delivered to ensuring knowledge retention of the required learnings.

Leaning Outcomes

EPA considers it reasonable that a training program ensure that drivers are competent in the following areas:

Identify and interpret relevant regulations

How the GED applies to a driver and non-compliance penalties

How the Waste Duties apply to a driver and non-compliance penalties

How a driver can check the classification of waste

Intrastate transport of RPW

Interstate transport of controlled waste

Transport permission types and conditions

How to find waste classification, permission, lawful place, EPA Portal, Waste Tracker, Public Register and other RPW transport information on the EPA website

Carrying out operations to comply with the Environment Protection Act 2017 and Environment Protection Regulations 2021

(If also a transporter) How to apply for types of EPA transport permissions

How a transporter assigns a driver to EPA Waste Tracker

How to sign on as a driver to EPA Waste Tracker

How to use Waste Tracker App and Portal

How to get help with using Waste Tracker and if Waste Tracker is not working

(If applicable) how to use an EPA approved alternative tracking system

How to segregate and secure loads

What equipment should be on the vehicle and how to use it

Vehicle placards

What to do when there is an environmental incident

How to identify hazards, assess risk, and put controls in place

What National Heavy Vehicle Regulator obligations apply to a driver

What WorkSafe Dangerous Goods obligations apply to a driver

Any other relevant industry regulations, codes of practice, work health and safety / occupational health and safely, environmental and workplace policies and procedures

Understand training parameters:

Driver understands how often they need to refresh their training

'In-house' training from one provider, may not be considered adequate by EPA nor be transferable where the driver takes up employment with another company

It is clear when a driver has completed their assessment and have passed.

A driver’s assessment records will be supplied by the training provider or waste transport company to EPA when requested.

Competency assessments

All training participants must be assessed against the learning outcomes. Drivers must have a thorough understanding of the course content and have a recorded pass in examination before transporting reportable priority waste. Records of examination must show individual answers against the learning outcomes.

The training provider must develop a clear policy stipulating what is needed for a successful pass and how long the certification of the training is valid.. This policy must be available to the transport company, driver and EPA.

Document retention & refresher requirements

The training provider, waste transport company and the driver must keep all documents in relation to each driver’s training and of the training package for a minimum of seven years. Driver refresher training (or equivalent) should be completed at least every five years by each trained driver and before their current certification expires.

If a driver takes up employment with another company, previous 'in-house' training may not be considered adequate or transferable by EPA. It is the responsibility of the current employer to ensure drivers are appropriately trained to meet the requirements of an approved EPA driver course.

Disclaimer

This content is a guide only and does not preclude EPA from considering penalties where training practices have been found ineffective under the GED. The information in this publication is for general guidance only. It does not constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied on as a statement of the law. As it is intended only as a general guide, it may contain generalisations. You should ask for professional advice if you have any specific concern. EPA has made every reasonable effort to provide current and accurate information at the time of publication.

Useful References

The following information may be helpful in developing or reviewing a driver training program.

Legal Obligations

Environment Protection Act 2017

https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/environment-protection-act-2017/005

Environment Protection Regulations 2021

https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/as-made/statutory-rules/environment-protection-regulations-2021

Publication 1825.1: Waste and recycling - guide to preventing harm to people and the environment.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1825-1

Publication 1990.1: Managing industrial waste – Your duties as a waste producer.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1990-1

Publication 1946.1: How to establish lawful place.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1946-1

Publication 1756.2: Summary of waste framework.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1756-2

Movement of controlled waste in and out of Victoria.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/waste/transporting-waste/interstate-transport

Waste Classification

Publication 1968.1: Guide to classifying industrial waste.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1968-1

Publication IWRG822.4: Waste codes.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/iwrg822-4

Use of Waste Tracker Software

Waste Tracker web content.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/waste/transporting-waste/waste-tracker

Sign up to Waste Tracker.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/waste/transporting-waste/waste-tracker/sign-up-to-wastetracker

What to do if Waste Tracker isn’t working.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/waste/transporting-waste/waste-tracker/what-to-do-if-wastetracker-isnt-working

Waste tracker for drivers and transporters

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/waste/transporting-waste/waste-tracker/waste-tracker-fordrivers-and-transporters

Publication F1020.2 - Waste record template for drivers and receivers.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/f1020

Transport Safety

Reasonably practicable web content and publication:

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/laws/new-laws/what-is-reasonably-practicable

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1856

Publication IWRG814.2: Vehicle guidance: Non-tanker vehicles/trailers

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/iwrg814-2

Publication IWRG816.2: Vehicle guidance: Tanker/tanker trailer.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/iwrg816-2

Publication IWRG611.2: Asbestos transport and disposal

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/iwrg611-2

Other considerations

Publication 2018: Storage and management of waste batteries – guideline. https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/2018

Publication IWRG612.1: Clinical and related waste – operational guidance

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-a-topic/manage-clinical-and-related-waste

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/iwrg612-1

Accessibility

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epa.vic.gov.au Environment Protection Authority Victoria GPO BOX 4395 Melbourne VIC 3001 1300 372 842 Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne