DRIVING FOR WORK
Many companies adopt an occupational risk programme with the main intention – to tick the Duty of Care Compliance box. However, the threat of prosecution under the Corporate Manslaughter Act and the substantial 2016 increase in health and safety fines is very real. Some of the typical objections to any training is cost and time.
However, if you think training is expensive, try having a crash!
The damage cost is simply the tip of the iceberg. When you take into account administration costs, down time, and maybe more if it was a serious incident, the cost of a few hours initial training could pay dividends.
By implementing a robust driving for work assessment and training programme not only keeps your organisation compliant but can have significant benefits in reduced collision rates, and all the complications as mentioned above, but also in fuel, tyres and wear and tear.
Your Legal Responsibility
- The Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 requires you to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees while at work.
- You need to carry out a Health and Safety Risk Assessment of your employees, while they are at work.
- The HSE has defined that the vehicle is a workplace if used in the course of an employee’s working day.
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states you have a responsibility to manage health and safety effectively.
THE CORPORATE MANSLAUGTHER ACT 2007
- Should someone who is driving on your behalf be involved in a fatal road traffic crash, managers as well as the company could be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and⁄or the Police for not only a breach of health and safety, but possibly a conviction for Corporate Manslaughter.
- This could include a heavy fine of up to 10% of the company’s annual turnover and possibly even a prison sentence.
This applies not just to company vehicle drivers, but also to car allowance and own vehicle casual users.
If they are driving for work, they are at work.
Choosing targeted or all employee business driver training, the benefits are clear!
- Demonstrates your conformance with current health and safety legislation and your organisations’ commitment to road safety.
- Encourages the continued improvement of driving skills and safety awareness both in and outside of the work environment.
- Fewer traffic incidents, therefore less ‘downtime’ for vehicles and their drivers (remember the iceberg!)
- Reduction in compromised scheduling / investigations / missed deadlines / extra administration.
- Protection from prosecution.
- Reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
- Contribution to making a reduction in carbon emissions. (See Ecodriving)
BUSINESS DRIVER PROGRAMME
Providing Fleet Driver Training for your business. BAODT takes a pride in its ability to make driving safer for everyone and drive your road risk down.
BAODT can provide:
- Road risk workshops
- Presentation and on road driver assessments and training
- Driver evaluation reports
Areas covered for Fleet Driver Training: Thames Valley (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire)