Corporate Transport Safety & Compliance Policy
NSW Bus Operator Accreditation Scheme (BOAS) Accredited Operator | Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd
| Issued by | Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd (trading as Sydney Charter Bus Australia) | ABN: 44 134 888 912 |
| Accreditation | NSW Accreditation No. 39461 — NSW Bus Operator Accreditation Scheme (BOAS) |
| Applies to | All corporate clients, event organisers, procurement teams and all charter service bookings |
| Legislative framework | Passenger Transport Act 2014 (NSW) | BOAS | HVNL | Chain of Responsibility | WHS Legislation |
| Review | Current version 4.4 — subject to amendment at any time. Always published at www.sydneycharterbus.com.au/company-policies |
1. Purpose
This Corporate Transport Safety & Compliance Policy provides a clear, client-facing summary of the operational, legal, and safety obligations governing all charter services conducted by Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd as an accredited bus operator under the NSW Bus Operator Accreditation Scheme (BOAS).
It is designed to inform corporate clients, event organisers, and procurement teams of their responsibilities and the conditions under which services are delivered.
2. Accreditation & Legal Framework
Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd operates in compliance with all relevant NSW and federal legislation, including:
| ◆ | Passenger Transport Act 2014 (NSW) |
| ◆ | Bus Operator Accreditation Scheme (BOAS) |
| ◆ | Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) |
| ◆ | Chain of Responsibility (CoR) |
| ◆ | Work Health & Safety (WHS) Legislation |
3. Client Duty of Care & Chain of Responsibility
⚠ LEGAL NOTICE — Under Chain of Responsibility (CoR) provisions, any party who influences transport decisions — including clients, event organisers and procurement teams — may be held legally liable for safety breaches. This includes pressure on drivers regarding schedules, itinerary changes, route selection, or any instruction that may result in a breach of road laws or fatigue regulations.
Clients must ensure:
| ✓ | Accurate and complete itineraries are provided prior to service |
| ✓ | Sufficient travel time is allocated to avoid driver fatigue or speeding pressures |
| ✓ | All pick-up, drop-off and parking locations are lawful, safe, and accessible |
| ✓ | No instructions are given that may breach road laws, fatigue laws, or safety procedures |
| ✓ | Site-specific risks (e.g. restricted access, unsealed roads, height limits) are disclosed in advance |
The operator reserves the right to refuse, modify or terminate any service where client instructions compromise safety or legal compliance.
4. Safety Management System (SMS)
All services are conducted under a formal, accredited Safety Management System which includes:
| ✓ | Risk identification and mitigation controls |
| ✓ | Incident and hazard reporting procedures |
| ✓ | Driver fitness-for-duty monitoring |
| ✓ | Emergency and critical incident response protocols |
Clients and passengers must comply with any direction given by the driver or operator in relation to safety at all times.
5. Driver Authority & Fatigue Management
All drivers:
| ✓ | Hold current NSW Driver Authority and Heavy Vehicle Licences |
| ✓ | Are subject to ongoing licence and medical checks |
| ✓ | Operate under regulated fatigue management work/rest limits (HVNL) |
Clients must NOT:
| ✗ | Request extended driving hours beyond legal fatigue limits |
| ✗ | Alter schedules in a manner that breaches fatigue compliance |
| ✗ | Pressure drivers to meet unrealistic timeframes |
Where legally required, additional drivers, accommodation, or schedule adjustments will be mandatory and chargeable to the client.
6. Vehicle Safety & Maintenance
All vehicles are maintained in accordance with:
| Manufacturer specifications |
| Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme (HVIS) requirements |
| Scheduled servicing and defect reporting systems |
Vehicles are subject to:
| Daily pre-departure safety inspections |
| Ongoing maintenance records and compliance audits |
The operator reserves the right to substitute vehicles where necessary for safety or operational reasons.
7. Drug & Alcohol Zero-Tolerance Policy
⚠ ZERO TOLERANCE
| ✗ | Maximum Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC): 0.02 or below at all times for all transport safety employees |
| ✗ | Zero presence of illicit drugs for all transport safety employees |
| ✗ | Mandatory testing following all notifiable incidents |
| ✗ | Services may be suspended or terminated where safety concerns arise |
8. Passenger Conduct & Safety Obligations
Clients are responsible for ensuring all passengers comply with:
| ✓ | Remaining seated where required |
| ✓ | Not distracting the driver |
| ✓ | Complying with lawful directions from the driver or operator |
| ✓ | Adhering to passenger capacity limits |
| ✓ | Seatbelt requirements where fitted |
Unsafe or non-compliant behaviour may result in:
| ! | Immediate termination of service |
| ! | Removal of passengers from the vehicle |
| ! | Additional costs or liability borne by the client |
9. Itinerary, Access & Site Responsibility
Clients must ensure:
| ✓ | Accurate addresses and contact details are provided prior to service |
| ✓ | Adequate bus access, turning space, and legal parking is available at all locations |
| ✓ | Site-specific risks are disclosed prior to service |
The operator will not be liable for delays, additional costs, or service disruption caused by inaccurate, incomplete, or unsafe location information.
10. Incident Management & Reporting
All incidents are managed in accordance with accredited SMS procedures, including:
| Immediate response and escalation protocols |
| Formal reporting and investigation processes |
| Notification to authorities where required by law |
Clients must cooperate with any reasonable request for information following an incident.
11. Right to Refuse or Modify Service
Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd reserves the absolute right to:
| ! | Refuse unsafe routes, locations, or instructions |
| ! | Modify itineraries due to safety, traffic, or operational constraints |
| ! | Suspend or terminate services where safety, legal, or behavioural risks arise |
No liability will be accepted for actions taken in compliance with legal safety obligations.
12. Limitation of Liability
To the extent permitted by law, the operator is not liable for:
| Delays caused by traffic, road conditions, or regulatory compliance requirements |
| Costs arising from client-provided incorrect or incomplete information |
| Indirect or consequential loss resulting from service modification for safety reasons |
| Service disruption caused by unsafe or inaccessible locations |
13. Acceptance of Terms
By confirming a booking, the client acknowledges and agrees to:
| 1 | Comply with all applicable transport safety laws and regulations |
| 2 | Adhere to all operator policies and driver instructions at all times |
| 3 | Accept that safety and legal compliance override all scheduling or commercial considerations |
🚫 Policy Compliance Notice
This policy forms part of the agreement between the client and Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd upon confirmation of any booking. By confirming a booking, the client acknowledges they have read, understood, and accepted the terms of this policy in full. Sydney Charter Bus Australia reserves the right to amend this policy at any time. For all compliance, safety, and policy enquiries, please contact us before your event. The current version is always published at www.sydneycharterbus.com.au/company-policies.
📞 1300 468 199 | 📱 0413 182 999 | ✉ [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:30am–4:30pm | Weekends 12:00pm–2:00pm | Public Holidays: Operational — Office Closed