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Road safety is a vital aspect of fleet safety management within any business, as accidents can harm employees, damaged goods, delay work schedules and even lead to legal action. Fleet managers must detect and control all possible risks in order to promote safety within the workplace, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is prepared to lend a helping hand.
Every driver who uses public roads must comply with certain legislation, and the HSE recently released ‘Driving at work: Managing work-related road safety’ to promote safe driving practices for business employees. The Department for Transport found that in 2012, over 25% of road traffic incidents may have involved somebody who was driving as part of their job. Health and safety laws apply to work activities on the road as well as in the office or on-site, and all businesses therefore have a legal duty to educate and protect their fleet as part of everyday business operations.
We’ve examined the new HSE guide and provided some key pointers below on what fleet managers should be doing for their drivers, vehicles and business.
Drivers
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) require employers to manage workplace health and safety effectively by assessing all risks to employees at work, as well risks relating to other people who may be affected by your business’s activities. A vital part of fleet safety management therefore relies on you communicating with employees to ensure that all drivers are competent, alert and healthy, sufficiently trained, aware of company policy and of course in possession of a valid driving licence!
Advice from HSE states that organisations have a legal duty to put in place suitable arrangements to manage workplace health and safety. It’s therefore a fleet manager’s responsibility to provide instruction, guidance and training sessions to promote road safety amongst their drivers, who need to be able to carry out routine safety checks, correctly adjust equipment, and adhere to laws regarding the use of mobile phones, alcohol and drugs while driving.
Vehicles
No surprise, vehicle safety and maintenance represents a fundamental part of fleet safety management. The new HSE guidelines include a work-related road safety checklist, highlighting multiple ways in which to check that vehicles are fit for purpose and maintained in a safe and fit condition. For instance, vehicles must not exceed maximum load weight, and all contents and equipment must be adequately secured. Daily vehicle checks and preventive maintenance naturally play a big part in road safety, and fleet managers must keep a constant eye on their business vehicles.
Work
Preparing your drivers and vehicles is important in fleet safety management – but it’s not enough. Each individual journey must be carefully considered in order for your business fleet to be truly efficient and safe. HSE guidelines suggest that routes should be thoroughly planned and made to meet realistic work schedules, taking into consideration driver shift patterns and available on-route amenities, as well as route terrain and traffic.
The suitability of your fleet vehicles must also be considered – is your driver aware of the height and weight of their vehicle, and its ability to pass through overhead restrictions such as bridges and tunnels? This doesn’t occur to many businesses in day-to-day fleet safety management, and as a result the HSE cite that there are an estimated three to six major bridge strikes every day! Not only do such oversights threaten road safety, they risk severe delays to your business operations and potential legal action if your driver is thought to have been driving in an unsafe manner.
Leadership
While you should aim to run your business fleet as efficiently as possible, work schedules must still be realistic and consider driver health, safety and happiness in the workplace. Businesses run well with content and motivated employees and strong, consistent leadership.
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