Contracts for the High Speed 2 (HS2) project require additional audit requirements over and above the mandatory earned recognition standards. DVSA Earned Recognition can be used to gain acceptance to HS2 contacts.
AM01 – HS2 is an optional module to the Earned Recognition (ER) accreditation, it is therefore acceptable for operators to choose to apply these additional requirements to an individual operator licence, which is part of the ER accreditation. This would include all the associated operating centres and specified vehicles on the selected licence(s) applying for AM01 – HS2, rather than all the entities and licences in the ER accreditation.
The additional module will need to be audited annually; therefore, in-between the periodic ER audit there will be a requirement for a satisfactory AM01 audit to be completed by an authorised audit provider (AAP).
Vehicles specified on operator licence(s) with AM01 – HS2 would need to include additional check items for the periodical safety inspections (e.g. supplementary equipment for indirect vision or vulnerable road user safety), which will be included as part of the maintenance system KPI report. The additional check items are identified as (*KPI).
Once the audit has been successfully completed, the ER Scheme Manager will notify the applicant the accreditation status of each licence in the application. The operator’s ER and/or AM01 – HS2 accreditation status will be published on gov.uk and identifiable with a VRM via the DVSA on-line search application.
So, what does the audit involve?
There are 8 additional elements to the audit these include:
HS.1 Additional Vehicle Safety Equipment Requirements
- 1.1 Back and side pictorial warning sticker
- 1.2 Side under-run protection of both sides of the vehicle
- 1.3 An audible left turn alert
- 1.4 Blind spot elimination to the front, side and rear of the vehicle
- 1.5** Digital recording of activities outside the vehicle, where specified by the employer for vehicles regularly being used on HS2 project
HS.2 Site Rules
- The operator should have policies and procedures in place to ensure adherence with any specific site rules implemented by any Nominated Undertaker.
- This may include additional equipment fitted to vehicles, access routes, access times and specific driver training
HS.3 Additional Driver Training Requirements
- The operator must ensure that drivers have addition training exceeding the requirements in section 7 of the HGV Earned recognition standards document where it is a requirement of the HS2 contract.
- Part of this requirement may be included in the driver CPC training
HS.4 Vehicle Emissions & Clean Air
- In addition to the requirements in section 3.12 of the HGV or PSV Earned Recognition standards document where required operators must adhere to the most current clean air rules specified by the HS2 contract. Operators should have a policy of replacing the most polluting vehicles
HS.5 Health & Safety
- The operator must have policies and procedures in place to reduce the risk of work-related accidents, injuries and cases of ill health and promote health and safety best practice throughout the workplace.
HS.6 Complaints
- The operator must demonstrate a process that deals effectively with all reported complaints providing documentary evidence to show each has been robustly investigated within a 10-day period and appropriate action taken to prevent a recurrence
HS.7 Routing
- The operator must route vehicles in the most efficient way considering weight restrictions, low bridges, and the environmental impact.
- Where possible routes should be planned that minimise the distance travelled, and fuel used.
- Where specific routes are required for contracts, procedures must be in place to ensure those routes are adhered to.
HS.8 Incidents on the road
- The operators must record and investigate any incidents including road traffic collisions, near misses and complaints. Procedures must be in place to determine the reasons and prevent reoccurrence.
- Operators should complete a DVSAER112 incident report where required
Please see the links below that contain all the guides and documents you should need