Understanding Occupational Road Use
Understanding Occupational Road Use is a crucial aspect of modern workplace safety, with significant implications for workers, organisations, and the wider community. Many serious injuries and fatalities occur on public roads while people are simply doing their jobs, whether they are driving, riding, or working roadside.
In this course, you will explore what counts as occupational road use, why vehicles and roads become workplaces under WHS law, and why road risk is often underestimated in traditional safety systems. You will learn to see road use as a complex system where people, vehicles, tasks, environments, organisations, and laws all interact to shape risk.
Developed based on BoK
Chapter 40.1 - Occupational Road Use: A Holistic Overview
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Funded by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, supported by the Australian Government
Why This Course Is Different
Unlike traditional training, this is an adaptive learning course. That means:
- The learning path automatically adjusts to your existing level of knowledge, so you skip what you already know and focus on what you need
- You progress faster—cutting the time to competency significantly—while ensuring you master all key concepts and skills
- Real-world examples and scenarios are safety specific, making learning immediately relevant
Learning Outcomes
- Define occupational road use as an OHS hazard.
- Map the occupational road-risk landscape using systems thinking.
- Navigate legal and regulatory frameworks for occupational road use.
- Design and layer effective control strategies.
- Integrate occupational road use into OHS practice and leadership.
Who's it For
This course is designed for safety practitioners, professionals and leaders who have workers driving, riding, or working on or near roads as part of their job, regardless of industry or vehicle type.
It is particularly relevant for those responsible for OHSMS design, contractor management, or overseeing mobile and remote work.
While it won't make you an expert transport engineer or road-safety researcher, it will give you a solid foundation to recognise occupational road-use hazards, ask the right questions about work design and scheduling, and collaborate effectively with fleet, operations, and road-safety specialists to control risk.
Course Details
Duration: 1 hour – self-paced; can be completed faster due to adaptive design
Cost: Free
Format: 100% Online | Adaptive Learning Path
CPD Points: 1 point
Continuous Learning
- Use for Verification of Competency: Successfully completing the course demonstrates your capability in essential ORU principles, providing documented proof of your skills for compliance, audits, or professional records.
- Refer Back Anytime: As an enrolled learner, you retain access to the course materials and tools, allowing you to revisit the content whenever you need a refresher—ideal for reinforcing knowledge, revisiting frameworks, or getting quick answers on the job.
- Continuous Professional Growth: This isn't a "once-off" learning event. By returning to the course at different stages of your career, you can adapt your skills and apply them to new challenges and contexts.
Registration & Support
Registrations for this course are now open, and you can register at anytime to begin the course.
Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to access and begin your learning. This email will be titled "Admin user". Please ensure you check your junk mail. If you have any issues, contact the Learning and Professional Development team at [email protected]