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The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 includes the company vehicle as a place of work and states that ‘every employer shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees’. Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their employees are not at risk during work-related driving activities and therefore need to effectively manage the risks associated with driving. Employers need to take the correct steps in ensuring the safety of their employees while on the road as they may be committing a criminal offence if they fail to do so. Nifast can help organisations manage work-related road safety and meet their health and safety obligations through our range of fleet solutions:
Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) Pre-Employment Driver Risk Assessments Off-Road All-Terrain Driver Training Shunter Operator/Banksman/Signallers Training Post-Collision Driver Support Training Vehicle Risk Assessments / Audits Preparation Training for the RoSPA Advanced Driver Training Vehicle Familiarisation Training Driving in Ireland Familiarisation Training Skid Car Training The RSA / HSA are now beginning to focus on the professional car / van driver. Why do they account for such a high percentage of collisions? There are many driver categories involved: - The sales person, 18 calls a day to make in four counties. - The marketing executive, 3 meetings today and two presentations to give. And another to prepare for tomorrow. - The service engineer, who travels from Cork to Sligo general to upgrade an X-Ray machine, but who must wait several hours until it is available. They also have to be in Dundalk for 7am the next day? - We need to remember that we are interacting with the HGV drivers on tight schedules to collect cargo and meet the ferry in Rosslare on time. - Then there is the motorcycle courier in the city who gets paid by the number of drops made, and so too does the van courier. - Many visitors to our country are used to looking left instead of right before stepping on to the road. All these issues need to be considered when driving and that requires a high degree of concentration. So, how does this all add up? Quite simply, if a drivers mind is not on the driving task, then they cannot be taking in the volume of information from their surroundings that they need in order to maintain situational awareness and make accurate and timely decisions. Have you ever tried to cost a job with a colleague talking to you about last night’s football match? How does driver training address this problem? - In essence, it enhances existing skills, identifies weak areas and poor habits and raises the hazard perception levels of the driver. It encourages the driver to consider what may be going through the mind of the other road user. It also demonstrates to the employee that the company values them and sees them as an asset which they want to protect. - It also places the responsibility back on the employee to use this training to protect themselves. So, where do I start? - Understand the employers obligations and brief all decision makers - Conduct a risk assessment of the tasks to be undertaken by the employee, to include distance, time on the road, vehicle suitability, road types, mobile phone usage policy, previous driving history, experience, work load, eyesight etc. You wouldn’t let them take a cup of coffee out of the canteen without a lid on the cup? No, because a risk assessment was done and a hazard identified. Then control measures were put in place. - Provide a clear and workable fleet policy, which is led from the top down and update regularly - Decide on which type of training is most suitable. - Project training as a positive policy and something that is international best practice - Prioritize training for those deemed most at risk and offer initial training to new employees. This training must be conducted by a ‘competent’ person - Review training records, recommendations and initiate corrective action where appropriate - Introduce as policy, all drivers, regardless of appointment or position within the organisation will be required to undergo a driver assessment if involved in an incident, accident or occurrence. - Include fleet safety issues at management meetings. - Inform staff of upcoming changes in road traffic legislation - Appoint a nominated fleet person (NFP) to address issues in each user department. - Provide a Hi-Vis vest, warning tri-angle and disposable camera etc as part of the emergency kit for each vehicle - Conduct regular checks on condition of fleet vehicle and encourage the driver to take responsibility for the vehicle and the company brand image - Conduct annual group demonstrations on emergency procedures for changing a wheel, action in the event of a collision, or breakdown. - Reward good driving standards with additional annual leave, meal for two, or weekend away or similar incentives. One of the difficulties in maintaining a fleet in good order is the “It’s not my vehicle anyway” attitude of some drivers. This approach costs an organisation a large amount in terms of penalties when the vehicle is returned to the fleet management company at the end of the lease term. Scuffs, dents, scrapes, damaged alloy wheels, tears in upholstery; spilt coffee on upholstery, cracked bumpers etc are all chargeable upon return. This should be emphasized at regular meetings and drivers should be reminded that these costs come directly off the bottom line. For more information contact our Fleet Safety Services Manager Kevin McDermott, who can advise you on all aspects of fleet safety. |
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