To date, fleet safety has gained relatively little attention as an occupational health and safety issue. Organisations whose business does not directly involve professional drivers (couriers, taxi drivers) often do not consider that fleet safety is important. However, anyone who drives a motor vehicle in the course of their duties is in a workplace while they are in the vehicle. Therefore fleet safety is an issue for most organisations, and the crash figures as well as the human and dollar costs of crashes support this as a major occupational health and safety issue. Crash data in 1997 show that 14 percent of all fatal crashes in Queensland involve vehicles being used for commercial purposes, and many more crashes involve hospitalisation and property damage. The majority of light vehicle crashes have been found to cost between $4000 and $18000 in repair costs, reduced productivity and the death or injury of workers. In overseas research, accounting for demographic and exposure variables, about 50 percent more accidents were shown to have been incurred by drivers of fleet vehicles than 'ordinary' drivers. In working with industry, Queensland Transport discovered that organisations either did not address fleet safety or had an ad hoc approach which was reactive rather than proactive. To assist organisations, Queensland Transport developed a self audit document (Workplace Fleet Safety System) that integrates fleet safety at various organisational levels. The Workplace Fleet Safety System guides fleet managers and workplace health and safety personnel through a step-by-step safety audit process to increase safety and reduce injury. This paper outlines the development of the Workplace Fleet Safety System and its application as a practical occupational health and safety intervention. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E205827.
Samenvatting