21/10/2026
Some safety upgrades I'd like to introduce at Dixon's Hazard Response are currently outside my budget, but I'm working towards them. These are improvements and don't mean my current operations are inherently unsafe. One low-cost safety measure I've had in place for some time is my Fatigue Policy and Fatigue Management Plan, which have undergone a major update this year. Both are controlled internal documents and won't be released on social media.
As a qualified Health and Safety Representative, I've reviewed the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), WorkSafe WA's Working Hours Code of Practice and relevant industrial awards. I've also considered commercial-driver fatigue regulations. While those specific requirements don't apply to my vehicle and operations, I've taken them into consideration.
The updated policy establishes a maximum of 16 hours of combined work within any rolling 24-hour period, including my paid employment, followed by a minimum 10-hour recovery period after reaching that limit. It also requires a 15-minute break after every two hours of consecutive driving, consistent with Australian road safety recommendations. Importantly, 16 hours is a maximum, not a target. In seven years of operating Dixon's Hazard Response, I've never come close to reaching 16 combined hours through my paid employment and volunteer activities, although I have worked 16-hour shifts in my paid employment alone. I also regularly get 8–9 hours of sleep each night, and it's very rare for me to get less than seven hours. The policy includes fatigue assessments, sleep requirements and procedures for declining incidents. If I'm fatigued, I don't respond, regardless of how many hours I've worked.
At the end of the day, Dixon's Hazard Response... I have a duty of care to you, members of the public, other motorists and those I assist. This is just another way I strive to be better, improve safety and continue developing Dixon's Hazard Response. Safety is an ongoing responsibility, and I will always look for opportunities to learn, improve and do better.
