The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Transport (DfT) have worked together to create some new ‘Driving and riding safely for work’ webpages.
The new webpages explain the responsibilities of anyone who engages workers to drive and ride for work, whether in an HGV or on a two-wheeled vehicle and covers health and wellbeing as well as safety.
Approx 1/3 of all road traffic collisions (RTCs) in Britain involve someone driving or riding as part of their job. Multiple other RTCs involve people travelling to or from their workplace, so for most people, driving or riding will be the most dangerous work activity they do.
Employers (or companies who engage drivers and riders) must take all reasonable steps to manage the risks on the road and do everything reasonably practicable to protect people from harm in the same way as they would in a fixed workplace. The risks cannot be completely controlled or prevented by an awareness of them is essential.
In recent years there have been large developments in driving technologies, such as; digital driving tracking rating scores, multiple cameras on vehicles showing the driver all angles, essential CPC courses for lorry drivers and driving practices.
There is clear, simple guidance spread over various pages :
- General overview including hazards and things to consider
- Plan and manage journeys including reporting and investigating incidents
- Look after workers health including information on stress, fatigue and posture
- Make sure vehicles used to drive or ride for work are safe including choosing the right vehicle then managing and maintaining it
- Make sure drivers and riders are safe including training suggestions, managing distractions and responsibilities
- The law and how it is regulated including how the law enforces employers to have general duties under health and safety law on driving and riding for work
- Workers who drive or ride for work including employer and employee responsibilities and how to raise concerns
- Driving or riding for work resources including case studies and vehicle safety technologies
If you need help or support with any risk assessments, reporting accidents, writing a health & safety policy or a general company audit then please contact us