This paper reports on a recently completed project to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in West Yorkshire in the UK to implement suitable quality systems to improve the road safety of their employees. The focus of the paper is on the process and implementation issues involved in attempting to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of commercial vehicle operations by allowing SMEs to implement quality systems for the assessment, monitoring, training and management of occupational drivers. The main limitation of the study was the difficulty and time spent in 'getting into' traditionally secretive and cautious SMEs. Less time than planned was therefore available for implementing and evaluating the actual initiatives. The paper offers several benefits that are new in the field: 1. Process skills in working closely with SMEs; 2. Low cost IT-based tools for driver assessment and monitoring, which have the potential to become web-based. These are particularly useful for organizations operating in rural and remote regions on a very low budget. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E209619. This paper may also be accessed by Internet users at: http://www.rsconference.com/index.html
Samenvatting