In a workshop held in Asharqia Chamber, "Standards, Metrology and Quality" emphasizes adherence to truck barrier specifications.
Al-Jabri: 560 thousand trucks in the Kingdom with growth rate of 8.4% annually.
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization has stressed the importance of adhering to the technical regulations for the front, rear and side barriers of trucks, trailers and semi-trailers, which have been enforced at the beginning of this year in order to reduce accidents and protect lives and property. The Organization warned of certain penalties that would be applied to the violators by the Authority and the regulatory authorities implementing the regulation.
Asharqia Chamber in cooperation with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization held a workshop to introduce the regulations on Wednesday May 9, 2018. During the workshop, the Director of the branch in the Eastern Region, d.Tamam al-Hammadi, explained that many of the incidents we see in our streets and public roads come from the absence of these barriers, including accidents of entry of small cars in large cars and trucks. Therefore, the idea of the regulation was implemented gradually until it reached the mandatory application on 1/1/2018.
Moreover, Bandar bin Rafi al-Jabri, a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber and the Chairman of the logistics committee, said that at least 560 thousand trucks roam the roads of the Kingdom east and west and grow at an annual rate of 8.4%. He added, "We have to stick to safety in heavy transport vehicles such as trucks and trailers because they are not only for transport companies, but for the whole community." He stressed the importance of adhering to regulations, requirements and technical specifications that are required to install protective barriers, whether rear, front or side in trucks, in order to reduce accidents between trucks and small vehicles. He emphasized the need to raise public awareness among the owners and leaders of vehicles of the importance of safety on the road, and the importance of compliance with the application of technical specifications and regulations issued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
In addition, Yazid bin Ali al-Faraj, the Director of the application department of the authority, said that the regulations set by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization bear humanitarian, environmental and economic objectives.
In this context, the technical regulations of the front, rear and side barriers and trailers aim to identify the basic requirements, and determine the conformity assessment procedures that the suppliers must adhere to in order to ensure the conformity of this product and maintain the health and safety of road users. This regulation applies to front, side and rear protection barriers for trucks, trailers and half trailers with a maximum weight of 5.3 tons. However, these regulations do not include trucks and trailers used off-road and military trucks, and trucks designed for specific purposes where the barriers cannot be installed.
He stated that the regulation provided for a number of obligations on the local supplier or factory that the factory be licensed to practice the activity from the concerned authorities; the manufacturer should cooperate with the Authority and the regulatory authorities implementing the regulations; recognizing that the collection of information submitted to the Authority is correct; documenting the manufacture and installation of truck protection barriers; documenting the job description and training plans and measuring the efficiency of working persons; providing equipment for all types of operations and ensuring their suitability; and verifying the compliance of the barriers with the requirements of the technical regulations and the completion of hygiene and occupational safety.
He said that the regulatory authorities should verify that the protection barriers are met the specific conformity assessment procedures, and the technical documents attached with the missionaries at the outlets and factories. He added that the inspection centers periodically should check the barriers in the process of the inspection of trucks and trailers and semi-trailers, and ensure that there is a registration number on the barriers of protection, in accordance with the regulations in force in the Kingdom. While the traffic departments and road security should check the presence of barriers to protection front, back and side on trucks and trailers and half trailers while traveling on public roads, according to the regulations and procedures in force. The licensees' authorities are also obliged to refuse to grant or renew the traffic licenses, only after ensuring that the security barriers are installed in accordance with the applicable regulations and procedures.
On the irregularities and penalties, Al-Faraj stated, "it is prohibited to manufacture or import the front and rear protection barriers and sidebars and trailers that do not conform to the regulation or even announced for it. Upon the determination of any violation in this regard, the Authority should take the necessary measures, including the cancellation of the registration and the relevant conformity certificate, and take the necessary measures with the issuer of the certificate. The regulatory authorities should take all measures as the case may be."
For his part, the Director of Conformity Certificates at the Authority, Engineer Ali Al-Harbi, reviewed the mechanism of obtaining conformity certificates through the electronic portal of the Authority. He noted that the information requested differed as to whether the provider was imported or a domestic factory, as there were certain rules to be observed by the provider.
