In this episode of The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast, Colin covers a subject which doesn’t usually come to mind when performing health and safety procedures, and that is Driving At Work. Colin explains how driving can be one of the most hazardous activities an employee can undertake and shares the necessary checks and measures required for your company to be in compliance with the law.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The first step is to check driving at work is included in your company’s policies and procedures. The 5 key questions you should ask yourself:
Does your health & safety statement cover road safety?
Is there a top-level commitment to work-related road safety?
Do you have adequate safety systems to allow you to manage work-related road safety effectively?
Do you monitor performance to ensure your policy is effective?
Have you undertaken a risk assessment?
Ensure your drivers are competent and sufficient to drive safely, perform health assessments and check their driving records, even if they are using their personal car for work-related activity.
Checks to ensure all company vehicles are fit for use, are they being properly maintained? Do they have valid MOTs? Lorries should be checked every 6-8 weeks minimum.
Consider the route your drivers need to take. If they covering long distances, limiting driving hours and providing a hotel room for the night is a sure safe way to prevent falling asleep at the wheel. Consider providing additional training for the drivers who cover the most mileage.
Have a procedure in place in case of emergencies, make sure the staff know what to do in case the vehicles break down or have an accident.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Report any vehicle defects and don’t drive defective vehicles, have the confidence to say no’
‘Driving at work is an important part of running business, so let’s make sure we get good systems in place’
‘It’s estimated that up to a third of all traffic accidents involve somebody who is at work at the time’
‘Some prescription drugs can have an adverse effect on people’s ability to drive’
‘My advice is switch phones off when you’re driving’
HOST BIO
‘Making health and safety as important as everything else we do.’
This is the belief that Colin is passionate about and through his consultancy Influential Management Group (IMG) is able to spread into Industry.
Colin works at a strategic level with company owners and board members. He helps business leaders establish and achieve their health and safety ambitions.
He has developed a number of leading competency improvement programmes that are delivered across industry and his strengths are his ability to take a practical approach to problem-solving and being able to liaise at all levels within an organisation.
Colin also runs a company that vets contractors online and a network that develops and support H&S consultancies to become better businesses.
Colin chairs the Construction Dust Partnership, -an industry collaboration directly involving many organisations, including the Health and Safety Executive.
He is a Post Graduate Tutor at Strathclyde University and a highly sought after health and safety speaker and trainer.
He has a Post Graduate Certificate in Safety and Risk management, an engineering degree and is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
