The foundation tier of Australia's new HVA scheme — demonstrating your business has a genuine, functioning safety management system.
General Safety Accreditation (GSA) is the entry-level tier of the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme. It replaces the individual NHVAS modules (Mass, Maintenance, Fatigue) with a single, whole-of-business accreditation that demonstrates your organisation has a functioning safety management system (SMS).
GSA is built on the SMS Standard 2026, which sets out the requirements your SMS must meet. Unlike NHVAS, which focused on whether specific documents existed, GSA assesses whether your safety systems are genuinely implemented, effective, and continuously improved.
GSA is a prerequisite for Advanced Compliance Accreditation (ACA). You must hold GSA before you can apply for any ACA modules. GSA covers your whole business — not just specific compliance areas.
The SMS Standard 2026 is the foundation document for GSA. It sets out five categories of requirements that your safety management system must address:
Senior management must demonstrate genuine commitment to safety. This includes establishing a safety policy, defining roles and responsibilities, allocating resources, and actively participating in safety management — not just signing off on documents.
Your SMS must include systematic processes for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls. This covers risk registers, risk assessment methodologies, and action plans for managing identified risks. You must also set safety objectives and plan how to achieve them.
This covers the resources and infrastructure needed to support your SMS: competency management (training, qualifications, experience), document control, communication processes, and record keeping. Everyone in your business must understand their safety responsibilities.
The operational controls that manage safety in your day-to-day activities. This includes procedures for high-risk activities, change management, contractor/subcontractor management, incident reporting and investigation, and emergency preparedness.
Your SMS must include processes for monitoring performance, conducting internal reviews, analysing data, and driving continuous improvement. This is where you demonstrate that your systems are not just documented but are actively used and improved over time.
HVA auditors will assess your SMS as a complete system — not individual modules. Your safety management system must cover all aspects of your operation, and you must be able to demonstrate that it functions as an integrated whole. Isolated compliance documents that aren't connected to your actual operations will not meet the standard.
GSA includes a specific requirement for a Maintenance Assurance Program (MAP). This replaces the standalone NHVAS Maintenance module and is built into the GSA framework.
Your MAP must demonstrate that you have effective systems for:
Operators who hold GSA with a compliant MAP are exempt from annual vehicle inspections in participating jurisdictions. This is a significant operational benefit — but it requires your MAP to be genuinely effective, not just documented.
Here's the process for achieving General Safety Accreditation:
Review the SMS Standard 2026 and understand what's required across all five categories. This is your roadmap for building or updating your SMS.
Compare your current systems against the SMS Standard. Identify gaps in policies, procedures, records, and practices. Prioritise the gaps that need the most work.
Develop or update your safety management system to meet the standard. This includes policies, procedures, risk registers, training records, maintenance programs, and review processes.
Establish your Maintenance Assurance Program covering scheduled maintenance, fault reporting, pre-trip inspections, and maintenance records. Ensure it's functioning — not just documented.
Ensure everyone understands their role in the SMS. Document training, verify competency, and keep records current. This includes executives, managers, supervisors, drivers, and admin staff.
Conduct an internal review of your SMS before applying for accreditation. Check that all elements are implemented, records are current, and your people can demonstrate how the system works in practice.
Submit your application to the NHVR. You'll need to provide evidence of your SMS, MAP, and supporting documentation. The NHVR will allocate a registered auditor to assess your application.
A registered auditor will conduct a whole-of-business audit assessing whether your SMS is genuinely functioning. They'll review documents, interview staff, and observe operations. Be prepared to demonstrate — not just show paperwork.
If your SMS meets the standard, you'll receive GSA for a 2-year period. Any Corrective Action Requests (CARs) must be closed before accreditation is granted. Maintain and improve your systems throughout the accreditation period.
ATCC has been helping transport operators achieve and maintain accreditation since 1998. We understand the transition from NHVAS to HVA and can guide your business through every step of the GSA process.
We'll assess your current systems against the SMS Standard 2026 and provide a clear, prioritised action plan for achieving GSA.
We build complete safety management systems tailored to your operation — not generic templates. Systems designed for how your business actually works.
We'll help you establish a compliant Maintenance Assurance Program integrated with your SMS, using Compliance Easy™ to manage the entire process.
Role-based training for all duty holders through Edify Easy© — executives, managers, drivers. Progress tracking and completion certificates included.
Internal reviews, evidence gathering, and system testing to ensure you're audit-ready. We prepare you so there are no surprises.
Accreditation is not a one-off event. We provide ongoing compliance management through Compliance Easy™ to keep your systems current and audit-ready.
Start your journey to General Safety Accreditation with expert guidance from ATCC. We'll help you build a genuine SMS that meets the standard and protects your business.
Contact ATCC Today Call 02 4392 2000