Movement of people and vehicles – hazards and control
9.7 Managing occupational road safety
9.7.1 Introduction
This section has been added outside the NEBOSH certifi - cate because it is an important area of concern recently given more prominence by the UK’s HSE. It has been Figure 9.7 Separate doors for vehicles and pedestrians.
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estimated that up to a third of all road traffi c accidents involve somebody who is at work at the time. This may account for over 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week. Some employers believe, incorrectly, that if they comply with certain road traffi c law requirements, so that company vehicles have a valid MOT certifi cate, and drivers hold a valid licence, this is enough to ensure the safety of their employees, and others, when they are on the road. However, health and safety law applies to on-the-road work activities as it does to all work activ- ities, and the risks should be managed effectively within a health and safety management system.
These requirements are in addition to the duties employers have under road traffi c law, e.g. the Road Traffi c Act and Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations, which are administered by the police and other agencies such as the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.
Health and safety law does not apply to commuting, unless the employee is travelling from their home to a location which is not their usual place of work.
9.7.2 Benefi ts of managing work-related road safety
The true costs of accidents to organizations are nearly always higher than just the costs of repairs and insurance
claims. The benefi ts of managing work-related road safety can be considerable, no matter what the size of the organizations. There will be benefi ts in the area of:
➤ control: costs, such as wear and tear and fuel, insur- ance premiums and claims can be better controlled
➤ driver training and vehicle purchase: better informed decisions can be made
➤ lost time: fewer days will be lost due to injury, ill health and work rescheduling
➤ vehicles: fewer will need to be off the road for repair
➤ orders: fewer orders will be missed
➤ key employees: there is likely to be a reduction in driving bans.
9.7.3 Managing occupational road risks
Where work-related road safety is integrated into the arrangements for managing health and safety at work, it can be managed effectively. The main areas to be addressed are, policy, responsibility, organization, sys- tems and monitoring. Employees should be encouraged to report all work-related road incidents and be assured that punitive action will not be taken against them?
The risk assessment should:
➤ consider the use, for example, of air or rail transport as a partial alternative to driving
Figure 9.8 Occupational road risk.
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➤ attempt to avoid situations where employees feel under pressure
➤ make sure that maintenance work is organized to reduce the risk of vehicle failure
➤ insist that drivers and passengers are adequately protected in the event of an incident. Crash helmets and protective clothing for those who ride motor- cycles and other two-wheeled vehicles should be of the appropriate colour and standard.
➤ ensure that company policy covers the important aspects of the Highway Code.
9.7.4 Evaluating the risks
The following considerations can be used to check on work-related road safety management
The driver Competency
➤ Is the driver competent, experienced and capable of doing the work safely?
➤ His or her licence valid for the type of vehicle to be driven?
➤ Is the vehicle suitable for the task or is it restricted by the driver’s licence?
➤ Does recruitment procedure include appropriate pre-appointment checks?
➤ Is the driving licence checked for validity on recruit- ment and periodically thereafter?
➤ When the driver is at work, is he or she aware of company policy on work-related road safety?
➤ Are written instructions and guidance available?
➤ Has the company specifi ed and monitored the stand- ards of skill and expertise required for the circum- stances for the job?
Training
Are drivers properly trained?
➤ Do drivers need additional training to carry out their duties safely?
➤ Does the company provide induction training for drivers?
➤ Are those drivers whose work exposes them to the highest risk given priority in training?
➤ Do drivers need to know how to carry out routine safety checks such as those on lights, tyres and wheel fi xings?
➤ Do drivers know how to adjust safety equipment cor- rectly, for example seat belts and head restraints?
➤ Is the headrest 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) behind the driv- er’s head?
➤ Is the front of the seat higher than the back and are the legs 45º to the fl oor?
Figure 9.9 Must have a licence valid for vehicle.
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➤ Is the steering wheel adjustable and set low to avoid shoulder stress?
➤ Are drivers able to use anti-lock brakes (ABS) properly?
➤ Do drivers have the expertise to ensure safe load distribution?
➤ If the vehicle breaks down, do drivers know what to do to ensure their own safety?
➤ Is there a handbook for drivers?
➤ Are drivers aware of the dangers of fatigue?
➤ Do drivers know the height of their vehicle, both laden and empty?
Fitness and health
➤ The driver’s level of health and fi tness should be suf- fi cient for safe driving?
➤ Drivers of HGV’s must have the appropriate medical certifi cate.
➤ Drivers who are most at risk, should also undergo regular medicals. Staff should not drive, or under- take other duties, while taking a course of medicine that might impair their judgement.
➤ All drivers should have regular (every 2 years) eye sight tests. Recent research has shown many driv- ers have poor eye sight which affects the standard of their driving.
The vehicle Suitability
All vehicles should be fi t for the purpose for which they are used. When purchasing new or replacement vehicles, the management should look for vehicles that are most suitable for driving and public health and safety. The fl eet should be suitable for the job in hand. Where privately owned vehicles are used for work they should be insured for business use and have an appropriate MOT certifi cate (over 3 years old in the UK).
Condition and Safety Equipment
Are vehicles maintained in a safe and fi t condition?
There will need to be:
➤ Maintenance arrangements to acceptable standards
➤ basic safety checks for drivers
➤ a method of ensuring that the vehicle does not exceed its maximum load weight
➤ reliable methods to secure goods and equipment in transit
➤ checks to make sure that safety equipment is in good working order
➤ Checks on seatbelts and head restraints. Are they fi tted correctly and functioning properly?
➤ Drivers need to know what action to take if they consider their vehicle is unsafe.
Ergonomic considerations
The health of the drivers, and possibly also their safety, may be put at risk from through an inappropriate seat- ing position or driving posture. Ergonomic considerations should therefore be considered before purchasing or leas- ing new vehicles. Information may need to be provided to drivers about good posture and, where appropriate, on how to set their seat correctly?
The load
For any lorry driving, most of the topics covered in this section are relevant. However, the load being carried is an additional issue. If the load is hazardous, emergency pro- cedures (and possibly equipment) must be in place and the driver trained in those procedures. The load should be stacked safely in the lorry so that it cannot move dur- ing the journey. There must also be satisfactory arrange- ments for handling the load at either end of the journey.
The journey Routes
Route planning is crucial. Safe routes should be chosen which are appropriate for the type of vehicle undertak- ing the journey wherever practicable. Motorways are the safest roads. Minor roads are suitable for cars, but they are less safe and could present diffi culties for larger vehicles. Overhead restrictions for example bridges, tunnels and other hazards such as level crossings, may present dangers for long and/or high vehicles so route planning should take particular account of these.
Scheduling
There are danger periods during the day and night when people are most likely, on average, to feel sleepy. These are between 2 am and 6 am and between 2 pm and 4 pm. Schedules need to take suffi cient account of these periods. Where tachographs are carried, they should be checked regularly to make sure that drivers are not putting themselves and others at risk by driving for long periods without a break. Periods of peak traffi c fl ow should be avoided if possible and new drivers should be given extra support while training.
Time
Has enough time been allowed to complete the driving job safely? A realistic schedule would take into account the type and condition of the road and allow the driver rest breaks. A non-vocational driver should not be expected to drive and work for longer than a professional driver. The recommendation of the Highway Code is for a 15 minute break every two hours.
➤ Are drivers put under pressure by the policy of the company? Are they encouraged to take unnecessary
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of agreed arrival times?
➤ Is it possible for the driver to make an overnight stay? This may be preferable to having to complete a long road journey at the end of the working day?
➤ Are staff aware that working irregular hours can add to the dangers of driving? They need to be advised of the dangers of driving home from work when they are excessively tired. In such circumstances they may wish to consider an alternative, such as a taxi.
Distance
Managers need to satisfy themselves that drivers will not be put at risk from fatigue caused by driving excessive distances without appropriate breaks. Combining driv- ing with other methods of transport may make it pos- sible for long road journeys to be eliminated or reduced.
Employees should not be asked to work an exceptionally long day.
Weather conditions
When planning journeys, suffi cient consideration will need to be given to adverse weather conditions, such as snow, ice, heavy rain and high winds. Routes should be rescheduled and journey times adapted to take adverse weather conditions into consideration. Where poor weather conditions are likely to be encountered, vehicles should be properly equipped to operate, with, for example, anti-lock brakes.
Where there are ways of reducing risk, for example when driving a high sided vehicle in strong winds with a light load, drivers should have the expertise to deal with the situation. In addition, they should not feel pres- surized to complete journeys where weather conditions are exceptionally diffi cult and this should be made clear by management.
9.7.5 Typical health and safety rules for drivers of cars on company business
The following example shows typical rules that have been prepared for use of car drivers.
Approximately 25% of all road accidents are work related accidents involving people who are using the vehicle on company business. Drivers are expected to understand and comply with the relevant requirements of the current edition of the Highway Code. The following rules have been produced to reduce accidents at work.
Any breach of these rules will be a disciplinary offence.
➤ All drivers must have a current and valid driving licence
➤ All vehicles must carry comprehensive insurance for use at work
➤ Plan the journey in advance to avoid, where pos- sible, dangerous roads or traffi c delays
➤ Use headlights in poor weather conditions and fog lights in foggy conditions
➤ Use hazard warning lights if an accident or severe traffi c congestion is approached (particularly on motorways)
➤ All speed limits must be observed but speeds should always be safe for the conditions encountered
➤ Drivers must not drive continuously for more than 2 hours without a break of at least 15 minutes
➤ Mobile phones, including hands-free equipment, must not be used whilst driving. They must be turned off during the journey and only used during the rest periods or when the vehicle is safely parked and the handbrake on
➤ No alcohol must be consumed during the day of the journey until the journey is completed. Only minimal amounts of alcohol should be consumed on the day before a journey is to be made
➤ No recreational drugs should be taken on the day of a journey. Some prescribed and over the counter drugs and medicines can also affect driver awareness and speed of reaction. Always check with a doctor or pharmacist to ensure that it is safe to drive.
9.7.6 Further information
The Highway Code The Stationery Offi ce 2001 ISBN 0 11 552290 5 Can also be viewed on www.highwaycode.
gov.uk
Managing occupational road risk Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents available from Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7ST Tel: 0121 248 2000
Driving at work managing work-related road safety HSE INDG382 ISBN 0 -7176 2824 8