Business Responsibility and Driving
According to the HSA, RSA and An Garda Síochána...
"Employers, managers and supervisors must, by law, manage the risks that employees face and create when they drive for work”
While drivers are largely responsible for how they drive, businesses must support their staff by putting in place procedures and where appropriate use technology.
You need to have a suitable driving for work management programme as part of your overall system for managing health and safety at work.
“There are five key steps that you should include in your programme:
Develop a driving for work policy
Risk assess driving for work hazards
Put safe systems into practice
Measure safety performance
Review safety performance.
1. POLICY:
Your driving for work policy should:
outline the aims of your safe driving for work policy
emphasise management’s commitment to this policy
refer to the relevant legislation and guidelines
explain how you will manage driving for work
give details of resources and responsibilities.
2. RISK ASSESSMENT:
You then need to record all the hazards your employees face when driving for work and assess the risks involved with each. This will help you to decide on the most effective way to control these risks.
3. SAFE SYSTEMS:
Describe the steps employees and supervisors will take to manage identified risks.
4. MEASURE PERFORMANCE:
These checks should include:
analysing incident reports
regular driver licence checks
regular checks with the drivers on their penalty point status
review of vehicle tracking and event data recorders.
5. REVIEW PERFORMANCE:
It is important that you review your driving for work programme on a regular basis."
“Employers cannot directly control road or weather conditions, but they can influence the way their employees act and behave on the road.”
Related article: Safe Driver, Vehicle and Journey overview
Related services: DriverFocus's online driver risk assessment and FREE Fleet Safety Survey are designed to help businesses identify gaps, reduce hidden costs, improve safety and show compliance.
Source and further information:
http://www.drivingforwork.ie
http://drivingforwork.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Driving-for-Work-My-Responsibiliities-Information-Sheet.pdf