The Transport Education Audit Compliance Health Organisation (TEACHO) research program for 2013-14 will focus on important transport industry issues such as worker health and safety, vehicle technology and professional development for truck drivers.

TEACHO chairman Dr Daryll Hull said the organisation would be finalising its research program in the coming weeks.

“TEACHO will be looking for ways to reinvest industry funds into research projects that provide direct benefits to both employers and workers in the road transport industry.

“It’s all about working together – finding better ways of doing things and building a better industry.”

Dr Hull said TEACHO has successfully grown the Bluecard Training Skills Passport system over the past 2 years, with around 13 per cent of transport workers now carrying the card in their wallet.

“The Bluecard system was developed to maintain nationally-consistent standards of basic safety training in the transport industry.

“The number of transport workers accredited under the system has increased by around 20 per cent – and is now up to approximately 60,000 workers across the country.

“Safety is not about just completing a course – it’s about putting the principles of occupational safety into practice on every single day.

“A key principle of the Bluecard system is that people have a responsibility to ensure they learn, understand and practice new procedures and policies whenever they change jobs.

“The system is helping to build co-operative employer/employee work environments and foster safe workplace cultures.”

Dr Hull said TEACHO was an excellent example of how workers and employers could work together to achieve positive outcomes for the entire transport industry.

The Transport Education Audit Compliance Health Organisation (TEACHO) Limited is a not for profit company established by the Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWUA) with employers and industry experts.