Safety Alert Brake Discs March 2023 Recent self-verifications checks have shown an increased number of heavy vehicles being found with worn, damaged or cracked brake discs. Broken/cracked brake discs are a sign of excess wear and can lead to catastrophic brake disc failure, resulting in the loss of braking efficiency/stability and serious incidents. Key Findings and Learnings Daily Checklist • The daily vehicle checklist is a critical tool that allows the driver to identify and report faults or potential issues with the vehicle, to his supervisor. • Contractors should ensure that drivers are made aware of this issue and shown how to check for this, as part of the daily check. • Reported defects should be repaired as soon as possible. Awareness • Many drivers do not recognize the serious risk that a broken brake disk carry, during the journey these disks will heat up and the compromised disc might break and shatter causing significant damage to surrounding mechanical parts, a loss in braking and has the potentially to cause an incident. Maintenance & Reporting • Routine vehicle maintenance should check for wear in the brake disc and ensure they are replaced when worn. Drivers • Report this issue immediately to your supervisor for urgent maintenance and repair. • If the vehicle is not safe do not use it. For advice about this Safety Alert, please contact: ROO Land Transport Authority (ROOHSELTA@roobasra.com)
