Do your employees operate vehicles as part of their work? Do your employees use machinery such as forklifts to carry out their tasks? If so, you need to ensure those employees know how to use their vehicles or machinery safely.
While we’re sure you have safety measures in place, it’s always good to refresh your knowledge. With the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) having released their 2018 Annual report, there’s never been a better time to check back in.
Vehicle-related workplace deaths
Vehicles have become a major cause of workplace deaths, despite the best efforts of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and HSA.
The HSA reported 39 work-related fatalities in 2018, down from 48 in 2017 ─ a 19% decline. Despite the decline, the main dangers last year still came from vehicles in the workplace, with 17 lives lost across all industries.
The farming sector has also seen a 40% decrease in work-related deaths. 2017 saw 25 lives lost, while 15 work-related deaths occurred in 2018.
Another industry to feature is construction which saw 5 work-related deaths last year. The HSA noted that “incidents involving vehicles have contributed for almost half - or 44% - of all deaths” in the construction industry.
According to the Annual Report, 15 prosecutions in 2018 resulted in total fines of €705,972. Inspectors also issued 452 improvement notices, 523 prohibition notices and 35 fines.
Legal requirements and control measures
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires that you, the employer, ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees during work. You must also assess the risks employees face and take action to make the environment safer.
If your employees are on the road, you must ensure they receive adequate information, instruction, training and supervision on the operation of work-related vehicles.
Ensuring vehicle safety
Wearing a seatbelt is one of the simpler, and obvious, ways for employees to protect themselves if they travel as part of their work. It also goes without saying that consuming drugs or alcohol before travelling is unwise, as doing so not only endangers the driver but other road users. When in work, staff cannot operate any vehicle if they suffer from a condition that affects their driving.
These are all obvious points, but not always implemented practices.
How to prepare for a journey
A little common sense goes a long way before driving. Employees should not begin a journey if they’re tired. Instead, they should wait until they’re alert and focused on reaching their destination safely.
The RSA advise that you avoid driving long journeys between midnight and 6 am when natural alertness wanes. Instead, do a little preparation.
Employees should map out their journey to see where they can stop along the line for mini-breaks.
If they feel like they are about to nod off, they should take a break for 15 minutes before driving again. To double down on drowsiness, they could consider grabbing a coffee if they can ─ the caffeine will keep them alert.
Maintain your vehicle
Maintenance checks are important to make sure the vehicle is in proper working order. To make sure your business’s vehicles are roadworthy, we have a driver’s handbook guide and a driver’s checklist available to clients upon request.
What are an employer’s responsibilities?
Occupational road safety is as important as any other hazard or risk within a business, and you need to understand that. As an employer, you’ve to do your best to reduce risks and hazards your employees might face.
Road safety is often ignored by employers because it’s considered the responsibility of the driver. This is not the case…
While you’re not accountable for the misdemeanours of the driver, you can be held responsible for several issues. These include but are not limited to:
- Requiring employees to drive unsafe or overloaded vehicles.
- Requiring employees to drive for an excessive number of hours.
Need our help?
If you would like further complimentary advice on vehicles in the workplace from an expert, our advisors are ready to take your call any time day or night. Call us on 0818 923 923 or request a callback here.
