Danger lurks on all sides in everyday life. And one of the biggest killers is the motor vehicle. EMC investigates and gives advice on managing vehicle safety at the workplace.
Every year around 70 people are killed in accidents involving vehicles at the workplace. Vehicular accidents resulting in broken bones, amputations or similar serious injuries top 1000.

Add these figures to the fatalities caused by falling from a height, electrocution etc etc and the employer should think itself lucky to have a labour force at all.

Any method of reducing injuries in the workplace is a valid one and the proper management of vehicle safety should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

But what is it that actually needs doing? Carrying out a risk assessment is a good start. Accidents involving vehicles usually come in one of four forms: people are struck or run over by moving vehicles; people fall from vehicles; people are struck by objects falling from vehicles; and vehicles can overturn.

This identification of risk is a good place to start an assessment:

  • identify the hazards associated with vehicle activities at the workplace. Look at each of the vehicular activities and ask what are the dangers, and what is causing them;

  • identify who might be harmed by each of the hazards. This is likely to include drivers, other employees, customers and possibly members of the public;

  • evaluate the risks – the likelihood that an accident will occur and its possible severity. Then, assess whether existing precautions are adequate;

  • put in place procedures to curb accidents in potential danger areas;

  • record the findings of the assessment and measures taken (if you have fewer than five employees then no records are required);

  • revise the risk assessment if any new vehicle types/routes or work activities could be deemed to cause a new hazard.

Legal duties

Risk assessments are time consuming and non-profit generating but they are essential. Firstly, to guard against serious injury, and second because it is the law.

The employer has a duty to provide a safe workplace, to maintain safe systems of work, and to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of employees and members of the public affected by their activities.

This duty includes carrying out a risk assessment and, when two or more employers share a workplace, each employer must co-operate with the others to comply with their legal duties.

Employees must also be made aware of any dangers and, they too, must take care of their own and others’ safety and co-operate with management to meet safety obligations.

What to do

Talk of risk assessment is all well and good but what actually needs to be checked?

Firstly, the workplace – check that the layout of routes is appropriate for both vehicle and pedestrian access:

  • are vehicles and pedestrians kept safely apart?

  • are there suitable parking areas for company and private vehicles?

Next on the check list is the actual vehicle route:

  • are there suitable pedestrian crossing points on vehicle routes?

  • does the route avoid sharp or blind bends?

  • is it well constructed and free from obstructions or hazards?

  • is there a need for direction signs or road markings?

The vehicles should come under scrutiny, too. They should be suitable for the job undertaken, whether it is the delivery of materials to site, transportation of operatives or manoeuvring of materials or components in the workplace:

  • are all standard safety features, such as lights, horn and brakes working properly?

  • are the correct restraints fitted, ie seatbelts?

  • are there guards on dangerous parts – exposed exhausts etc?

Finally, the operatives that are driving and loading/unloading the vehicles must be up to the job:

  • do drivers operate the vehicle with care – use the correct routes, drive within the speed limit, follow site rules, park safely?

  • are the drivers tested for competency?

  • are the drivers’ past records checked?

  • is there a training programme for drivers of specialist vehicles?

  • are employees using safe practices to load/unload a vehicle?

  • is loading/unloading being carried out away from passing traffic and pedestrians?

  • are supervisors, drivers and employees aware of driving regulations on site?

  • are vehicles loaded properly at all times, but especially when being driven on the public highway?

Simply due to the nature of the work construction is a sector that can be riddled with danger. So, whether the activity is driving, erecting scaffold, welding or working on live electrical installations, it pays to work as safely as possible and never ‘cut corners’.

Safety call

Any time, any place, anywhere... that’s mobile phones. They are a brilliant form of keeping in touch with staff or as a communication tool in an emergency, but mobile phones and driving just don’t mix. The law says that a driver must have complete control of the vehicle at all times. And, if the use of a mobile phone causes them to drive in a careless or dangerous manner, then it is classed as a prosecutable offence. This negates the use of a mobile phone while moving. So, the hands-free alternative would seem the perfect answer. Unfortunately, research has shown that the use of hands-free communication whilst driving also has an effect on the driver’s concentration. The DETR has released advice on the use of mobile phones while driving. It is common sense stuff but we all need reminding now and again:
  • try to make and receive as few calls as possible while driving;
  • keep conversations brief;
  • encourage drivers to use a message service and only answer calls when stationary, if possible;
  • always install hands-free equipment in accordance with the instructions and to the BSI’s Guide to in-vehicle information systems (DD 235: 1996). So, any time, any place, anywhere? Maybe not. It’s best to leave the mobile and the Martini out of the driver’s seat.