HSE People - Health and Safety Community

The importance of having an up to date “Driving at Work Management System in place is getting crutial by the day as legislation dictates that we must protect our businesses from the few.

One of the biggest issues we face as human beings is our attitude to certain protocols in life, for instance how many times have we heard someone at work or within our business say;

“It’s not my job”        or       “It won’t happen to me”

It never ceases to amaze me at times that a large proportion of employees will pass the buck by assuming you are responsible when an incident happens. It is all too easy to lay the blame at somebody else’s doorstep and it could be yours if you are not careful, it’s called human conditioning. 

Health & Safety isn’t a sexy subject, and before you doze off, as it always happens when we talk about Health & Safety especially compounded with vehicles being a very emotive subject then I am onto a loser before I start!

We need to take a hard look at the management systems that we have in place, because, as the legislation gets tighter and resultant fines from breaches being like telephone numbers. Can we afford not to take action and be responsible 100% of the time whether that is from an employer, employee, sub contractor or volunteer perspective?

So how do you protect everyone in your business? The answer is easy; communicate with everyone in a manner that gets the message across, without alienating them or yourself into the bargain.

It is funny; when we use the word “communicate” we tend to clam up and are not sure where to start.

Get a pad and pen out and let me ask you; when someone whom you employ or engage to do work for you, drives on behalf of your organisation.  Do you see or think of areas that can eat into your profit? If so write them down and address it.

For instance a van livered up with your name pristine and proudly displayed and the driver is either doing something or a number of things all at the same time. Such as using a mobile phone, smoking, speeding, hand gestures or even parked irresponsibly. You may even class these as minor issues. But they can dent your reputation without you knowing about it until it is too late. Would you purchase food from a baker when the driver delivering the goods has been seen smoking in the cab?  or would you recommend a plumber, joiner or an electrician if they cut you up and started giving gestures out the window?, I know I wouldn’t and perhaps now I have maybe started you thinking.

No matter what business you are in and are using vehicles, you run the risk of lost sales revenue by the actions of a few. Now we all need sales to keep the business going it is our life blood.

Take speeding & mobile phone issues and a minimum 3 points on the drivers licence as a result, what will this do to your insurance renewal? The driver has a risk of losing their licence with totting up of points? What is your policy for reporting this?

With businesses going through difficult times, can you really afford to eat into what profit you may have?

Now let’s look at the worst case scenario and the driver has caused or is involved in an incident. If a fatality has occurred the police will treat it the same way as a murder and you better hope that you have a fully auditable management system in place to protect you which will stand up to close scrutiny.  

Examples above will have a cost; however fines for serious breaches could put you out of business unless you have money stashed under the mattress so to speak and you don’t need to own the vehicle.

What will the cost be if you have to replace an employee who was injured, died or even sent to prison because of the incident. Now I hear you say the dreaded words “That won’t happen to us” It could, how do you know as it only takes a lapse of concentration. Oh, and what about all the adverse publicity, fine and the time it drags out as it could be a few years before it is heard in court if you are deemed negligent.

Putting your house in order isn’t rocket science and you have three choices.

1.      Engage a company to help you install a proper management system.

This will allow you to get your house in order correctly using the expertise available.

2.      Do it yourself or have someone in your organisation do it.

Understanding what is required may eat into more resources than you realise and the person needs to be competent and have an understanding of what is required.

3.      Continue as you are.

This isn’t an option, if you have something in place get it reviewed, otherwise you may well be in a false position. If you are not sure what you have in place get it checked out now as it could be the best decision you have made.

These options have cost implications; the most expensive will only come to light when you have an incident. The big question is can you afford to take the chance? Safety isn’t a cost option, it is a necessary option as the:

“Unexpected will always happen when you least expect it too!”

Loved ones coming together is what the holidays are all about, but first you have to get there. This holiday season is expected to receive more travel on the roads than in previous years due to the recession, which means that more safety measures need to be taken to avoid accidents. SafetySkills™ is providing these safe driving tips:

• Know the weather conditions and how to drive in them. 75 percent of all winter weather related deaths can be attributed to driving in dangerous weather conditions. Take SafetySkills™ free Hazardous Driving Conditions online course to learn how to minimize your risk at http://www.safetyskills.com/winter-driving.
• Prepare you vehicle for winter driving. It is recommended to check the tire pressure, windshield wipers and fluid, and the battery to avoid car trouble and keep the windshield and windows clean for proper visibility. Stocking the car with self-sustaining technologies and supplies is also encouraged, such as a first aid kit, blankets, matches, safety flares, flashlight, fully-charged cell phone and bottled water.
• Stay alert. Driver distraction is becoming, in the words of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, an “epidemic” that caused 500,000 car accidents and 6,000 fatalities last year. Drivers need to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times.
• Never drink and drive. 36 percent of all Christmas accidents on the road are alcohol-related. Those who become too festive for their own good should never get behind the wheel and should use a taxi service.
•  Plan for daytime driving. Three times as many fatalities occur during the night (6 p.m. - 6 a.m.) than during the day according to both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC).

“Driving this time of year is simply chaotic,” said Trey Greene, CEO of noodleStream.com. “The roads are busy and that mixed with the weather creates a dangerous environment for driving. Using these tips will help reduce the chance of car accidents and more importantly injuries and even deaths.”

To learn more about SafetySkills™ and to take their free Hazardous Driving Conditions course, visit http://www.safetyskills.com/winter-driving.