Managing Occupational Road Risk
Managing The Risk
Police forces have recently introduced new initiatives in their campaign to increase company bosses awareness of the need to comply with H&S at Work legislation in respect of Managing Occupational Road Risk.
If after stopping a driver for a motoring offence, such as using a hand held mobile phone, they identify that the driver is ‘Driving at Work’ they will begin a process of writing to the employer, which may then be followed up with a visit from a uniformed traffic officer for a meeting with a company Director. The officer will ask about their risk management strategy and request to see documentary evidence that H&S legislation in respect of ‘Driving at Work’ is being complied with by means of an adequate policy, driver risk assessments, procedures and training etc and, is being effectively managed.
New ACPO guidelines also recommend that the HSE should be contacted when there is sufficient indication that failures in safety management by the employer have significantly contributed to the incident.
Firms that fail or refuse to co-operate may be issued with an ‘improvement notice’ compelling them to take action. Depending on the seriousness of the offence, unlimited fines can be imposed on individual managers and the company in the crown court, while there is a ceiling of £20,000 in the magistrate’s court.
The Police are not out to target businesses, but to encourage them to operate responsibly. Whilst the scheme is designed to make companies feel uncomfortable when not fulfilling their responsibilities the Police point out that they will also be there to offer support and guidance.
A Health & Safety Executive spokesperson said employers had a ‘duty of care’ to take all reasonable and practical steps to ensure the health, safety and well-being of employees while at work and have a responsibility to ensure that others are not put at risk by their work-related activities. ‘If an employer fails in that duty, there could be an issue of criminal liability’.
The bottom line is that ANY EMPLOYEE driving at work in either a company vehicle; private vehicle or even a hired vehicle could now potentially be the cause of such a visit / investigation by the Police and possibly also the HSE
What would the consequences be for YOUR Company?
How can RoSPA help?
At RoSPA we have considerable experience in helping companies of all sizes achieve their objectives in Managing Occupational Road Risk either simply from sound advice or from a selection of products and services ranging from Risk Assessments to Driver Training.
Call today to arrange your free consultation 0121 248 2124
For posters relating to driver Safety please visit www.rospa.com/themedmonthposters/mar_b.htm
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