Driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people do. Research indicates that about 20 people are killed and 220 seriously injured every week in crashes involving someone who was driving, riding or otherwise using the road for work. HSE Guidelines,‘Driving at Work’, state that "health and safety law applies to on-the-road work activities as to all work activities and the risks should be effectively managed within a health and safety system". So, employers must conduct suitable risk assessments and put in place all ‘reasonably practicable’measures to ensure that work related journeys are safe, staff are fit and are competent to drive safely and the vehicles used are fit for purpose and in a safe condition. Such measures will more than pay for themselves by reducing accident costs,many of which (e.g. lost staff time, administration costs) will be uninsured. (Author/publisher)
Abstract