Occupational Occupational Road RiskRoad Risk

Health and safety issues Health and safety issues for vehicles and driversfor vehicles and drivers

Mike Lewis MIOSH, RSPMike Lewis MIOSH, RSP

IntroductionIntroduction

For the majority of us, the most For the majority of us, the most dangerous thing we do is drive on dangerous thing we do is drive on the public highwaythe public highway

Accident Statistics (UK Accident Statistics (UK 2003)2003)

3,508 persons killed3,508 persons killed 33,707 seriously injured33,707 seriously injured 254,000 slightly injured254,000 slightly injured 30% of the above fatalities and 30% of the above fatalities and

serious injuries related to driving serious injuries related to driving at workat work

Annual probability of Annual probability of occupational fatalityoccupational fatality

Deep sea fishingDeep sea fishing 1 in 7501 in 750 Coal miningCoal mining 1 in 71001 in 7100 ConstructionConstruction 1 in 100001 in 10000 Services industryServices industry 1 in 1500001 in 150000 Car driving >25000 miles/year Car driving >25000 miles/year 1 in 1 in

80008000

Road Traffic Accident - Road Traffic Accident - DefinitionDefinition

A rare, random, A rare, random, multifactor event multifactor event where one or where one or more road users more road users have failed to have failed to cope with their cope with their environment.environment.

Multi Factor EventMulti Factor Event

Road and environmental Road and environmental deficienciesdeficiencies Misleading visual situationMisleading visual situation Bad/negligent designBad/negligent design

Vehicle defectsVehicle defects Defective brakesDefective brakes Defective tyresDefective tyres

Road user errorRoad user error 95% RTA’s involve human error95% RTA’s involve human error

Types of ErrorTypes of Error Driver actionsDriver actions

Driving too fastDriving too fast Failure to give wayFailure to give way Irresponsible or aggressive behaviourIrresponsible or aggressive behaviour

PerceptualPerceptual InattentionInattention Failure to seeFailure to see MisjudgementMisjudgement

ImpairmentImpairment Under the influence of alcohol/drugsUnder the influence of alcohol/drugs fatiguefatigue

Road Accident CostsRoad Accident CostsFigures from RAC (2005)Figures from RAC (2005) Direct CostDirect Cost

The average repair costs is The average repair costs is estimated as £750estimated as £750

Indirect CostIndirect Cost i.e.non recoverable insurance i.e.non recoverable insurance

excess, replacement vehicle costs, excess, replacement vehicle costs, employee absence, missed employee absence, missed appointments & deliveries, appointments & deliveries, administration etc. are estimated as administration etc. are estimated as being being four timesfour times the direct cost (4x the direct cost (4x £750 = £3000)£750 = £3000)

Total CostTotal Cost £750 + 2250 = £3000£750 + 2250 = £3000

Legal PositionLegal Position

Health & Safety at Work Act Health & Safety at Work Act 19741974

Employers are required to ensure, so far Employers are required to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees while at work.and safety of all employees while at work.

Duty of care to provide employees with:Duty of care to provide employees with: safe plant and equipmentsafe plant and equipment Safe systems of workSafe systems of work Competent workersCompetent workers Adequate instruction and supervisionAdequate instruction and supervision Safe workplace and environmentSafe workplace and environment

Management of Health & Safety Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999at Work Regulations 1999

Requirement under Regulation 3 to Requirement under Regulation 3 to carry out assessment of risks to carry out assessment of risks to employees and others affected by employees and others affected by their work activities.their work activities.

The Regulations require you to The Regulations require you to periodically review risk periodically review risk assessments.assessments.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 19951995

Majority of RTA’s come under the Road Majority of RTA’s come under the Road Traffic Act.Traffic Act.

RIDDOR only applies to accidents on the RIDDOR only applies to accidents on the road involving:road involving: Loading or unloading vehiclesLoading or unloading vehicles Working alongside the roadWorking alongside the road Exposed to a substance being carried on a Exposed to a substance being carried on a

vehiclevehicle Involving a trainInvolving a train

HSE GuidanceHSE Guidance

The HSE has The HSE has clarified employers clarified employers requirements in requirements in guidance INDG382 guidance INDG382 Driving at Work: Driving at Work: Managing work-Managing work-related road safety related road safety www.hse.gov.uk/puwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdfbns/indg382.pdf

Development of Development of a Policya Policy

What should be in the What should be in the policy?policy?

CommitmentCommitment Organisation Organisation

roles and responsibilitiesroles and responsibilities ArrangementsArrangements

Driver selection, driver trainingDriver selection, driver training Vehicle selection, vehicle safetyVehicle selection, vehicle safety Restrictions and control of useRestrictions and control of use Maintenance and servicingMaintenance and servicing Provision of informationProvision of information Accident investigation and analysisAccident investigation and analysis

Monitoring and ReviewMonitoring and Review

Policy ImplementationPolicy Implementation

Procedures and Procedures and work instructionswork instructions

Staff/driver Staff/driver handbookshandbooks

Induction coursesInduction courses Training sessionsTraining sessions Briefing sessionsBriefing sessions

Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

Identify significant risksIdentify significant risks Identify persons affectedIdentify persons affected Identify necessary controls to Identify necessary controls to

mitigate or reduce risksmitigate or reduce risks Prioritise control measures Prioritise control measures

Control MeasuresControl Measures

When considering control When considering control measures you should look at three measures you should look at three individual areas i.e.individual areas i.e. The JourneyThe Journey The VehicleThe Vehicle The DriverThe Driver

The JourneyThe Journey Eliminate unnecessary journeysEliminate unnecessary journeys Consider other modes of transportConsider other modes of transport Control drivers hours/reduce night drivingControl drivers hours/reduce night driving Utilise the safest routesUtilise the safest routes Avoid driving in adverse weatherAvoid driving in adverse weather Consider travellers when planning times and Consider travellers when planning times and

locations of meetings etc. locations of meetings etc. Encourage breaks in long journeys, over Encourage breaks in long journeys, over

night stops, vehicle sharing etc.night stops, vehicle sharing etc. Consider the whole journey – long haul flightsConsider the whole journey – long haul flights

The VehicleThe Vehicle

Vehicle selectionVehicle selection Safety features e.g. airbags, cargo nets etc.Safety features e.g. airbags, cargo nets etc. SuitabilitySuitability Use of own vehicles - roadworthinessUse of own vehicles - roadworthiness Restriction on high powered or 4x4 off road Restriction on high powered or 4x4 off road

vehicles etc.vehicles etc. Routine maintenance and servicingRoutine maintenance and servicing Driver safety checksDriver safety checks Procedure for reporting defectsProcedure for reporting defects

The DriverThe Driver Driver selectionDriver selection

Aptitude and attitudeAptitude and attitude Age and competence - valid licence?Age and competence - valid licence? Previous accident historyPrevious accident history

Driver fitnessDriver fitness Pre-employment medical checks, eyesight checksPre-employment medical checks, eyesight checks Physical and mental well beingPhysical and mental well being

Driver improvement Driver improvement Driver guidance Driver guidance

Dealing with emergencies Dealing with emergencies Alcohol and drugsAlcohol and drugs Use of mobile phones whilst driving Use of mobile phones whilst driving Lone femalesLone females

Impact of incentive schemes on driving behaviourImpact of incentive schemes on driving behaviour

Driver TrainingDriver Training

Driver TrainingDriver Training As with any training, driver training As with any training, driver training

should be suitable and sufficient and should be suitable and sufficient and appropriate to the risk.appropriate to the risk.

Induction trainingInduction training Additional training may be required to Additional training may be required to

carry out duties safelycarry out duties safely Refresher training may be required if Refresher training may be required if

employee has a poor accident historyemployee has a poor accident history Behavioural aspectsBehavioural aspects Specialist training in defensive drivingSpecialist training in defensive driving

Further Further InformationInformation

Information SourcesInformation Sources HSE Work-related road safety website HSE Work-related road safety website

http://www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety/http://www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety/ RoSPA Road safety websiteRoSPA Road safety website http://www.rospa.co.uk/roadsafety/index.http://www.rospa.co.uk/roadsafety/index.htmhtm Department for TransportDepartment for Transport

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/homepage/dft_home_page.hcspdocuments/homepage/dft_home_page.hcsp Highway CodeHighway Code www.highwaycode.gov.ukwww.highwaycode.gov.uk