Ark Workplace Risk ™

Tip Sheet: Inclement Weather And Safe Driving

Practical, appropriate arrangements you can make to manage risks

Driving - the unsafest work activity employees face?

Driving could well be the most dangerous activity most employees will face at work.
Recent research indicates that around a third of all road traffic accidents involve an employee who is at work. This may account for up to 20 deaths and 250 serious injuries every week.
What's more, with the inclement weather we've seen recently the risks of driving on company business are increased significantly.
The Health and Safety at Work Act applies to all work activities including driving, so you need the confidence that appropriate arrangements are in place to manage the risks to employees.
Risk assessment begins by considering the elimination of the risk altogether. Clearly, in the case of driving this will require employers to at least consider the possibility that their employees should not drive in particularly hazardous conditions such as heavy snow.

Safe driving practices

You should have detailed driving policies in place which document the precautions that employees are required to take. Many of the risks associated with driving in severe weather can be managed effectively by implementing safe driving practices.
In addition to providing guidance, driving policies should also include the option of not driving where conditions become too hazardous and employees should be made aware of this and should be encouraged to use public transport or make alternative arrangements where possible.
While health & safety law does not cover commuting to an employee's normal place of work, you may also wish to make provisions for those employees travelling to work by car as part of your overall duty of care to your staff.
Above all, consider those employees who are particularly vulnerable, such as expectant mothers. You can encourage the use of public transport and home working where appropriate.
Successful management of such risks not only benefits the workforce but also helps to reduce the unplanned business costs of inclement weather which may arise from road accidents, slips and trips. The direct costs of such incidents may in fact be dwarfed by wider hidden costs such as increased insurance costs and lost time.

The Driving Standards Agency has suggested the following tips for safer driving, which could also help save fuel and reduce vehicle emissions:

• Plan your journey and route. Give yourself plenty of time and for long journeys make sure that you have regular breaks
• While driving plan well ahead. Be aware of what is going on in the distance as well as around you, so you are able to anticipate what's going to happen on the road.
• Reduce your speed and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front. (In icy conditions, you can skid at only 5 mph)
• Avoid harsh acceleration and heavy braking. Drive at a speed which is safe for the conditions.
• Ensure your vehicle is prepared for wintry weather - check the condition of the lights and tyres, and make sure the windows are clean and clear. Pack extra clothing, hot drink, blankets, etc, in case you get stranded.

What can you do?

• Have driving or workplace transport risk assessments undertaken with regards to driving at work;
• Ensure that you have a driving at work policy and that all employees who drive at work are aware of it and this is enforced.
• Your policy should include the use of mobile phone and smoking whilst using a work
• Make sure your company car fleet is suitably prepared for winter weather conditions.
• Consider providing driver training for company car drivers and, for other employees who have to commute into work, think about encouraging home working and use of public transport where appropriate
• See to it that working time is monitored
• Ensure workplace surfaces such as car parks and steps are well gritted.

Optimal Risk Control With Ark

Top brand clients work with Ark Workplace Risk to optimise their control and management of risk.
You can work with Ark to reduce your staff's risk exposure to driving risks -- from initial policy and procedural development and implementation through to ongoing risk assessment and risk management.
To explore how you can optimise your Health & Safety and Risk management systems, just use the easy form below or call us on +44 (0) 20 7397 1450 .

Complimentary Download

Ark Advisory Report: "How To Minimise Workplace Driving Risks".