Health & Safety

Health & Safety legislation is an integral part of modern business life, and business owners have every reason to comply with the requirements to avoid some potentially onerous penalties for non-compliance. In relation to 'at work' drivers, we are particularly mindful of the employer's 'duty of care' which not only applies to the normal office workplace, but also to a mobile workplace - such as a car, van or truck. Employers should therefore be fully aware of the requirements and ensure staff are appropriately assessed and trained as necessary to fulfil their role.  Failure to address the requirements could in a worst-case scenario see directors or managers facing a Corporate Manslaughter charge, with the potential for unlimited fines or even a custodial sentence. H&S is therefore something that employers ignore at their peril; happily our consultancy service can assist in minimising this risk.  Identification of risks and identifying cost saving opportunities are just two of our specialties. Our instructors are also experts in assessing and profiling drivers from a risk perspective. Pre-employment assessment and training of new drivers is extremely important, as it can identify potential problems before the person is recruited. This in itself has great cost saving potential and minimises exposure to unnecessary risk. Legislation already covers driver's hours for several vehicle categories, and this may soon be extended. Companies should have proper recording systems in place, along with a robust training and risk management strategy to protect themselves from potential legal action. Additionally, companies should also be aware of legislation covering Fleet Trainers and the DSA qualifying requirements to ensure they o­nly purchase training services from reputable and approved suppliers, such as Advanced Driver Services Ltd. Several useful reference documents are available from the HSE to help companies understand their obligations, however, we can offer full assistance to enable you to carry o­n with your core business whilst we do the rest. And now a few points to remember..... Training does save lives, time and money. 95% of accidents are attributable to driver error. The total cost of a single fatal road accident is estimated to be around £1.5m Untrained 'at work' driver accident rates are around 50% higher than average. Companies and fleet operators who do not put safety first are at risk of fines and even imprisonment.33% of all Road Traffic Accidents involve people driving in the pursuance of their work. The Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Bill 2008 is with us - be aware!