Sunday, 11 January 2009

Fleet Training

Corporate Manslaughter & Fleet Training

Firms which fail to ensure staff drive safely in their company car are likely to be a prime target for new Corporate Manslaughter legislation. Police will check that staff are properly insured, have an MoT test for their vehicles and have a valid driving license. They will also check that managers are not making excessive demands on employees by forcing them to drive when tired.

Blue School of Motoring can provide the complete training and audit package to fit in with your company, the deals with Corporate Manslaughter

We will provide the trainers, to asses your staff.
We will work with you and structure a training programme
We will write a Risk Assessment document that provides guidance for all staff.
We will provide expert guidance and advice long after our first visit to your company.


ASSESSING RISKS ON THE ROAD
Risk assessments for any work-related driving activity should follow the same principles as
risk assessments for any other work activity. You should bear in mind that failure to properly
manage work-related road safety is more likely to endanger other people than a failure to
properly manage risks in the workplace.

A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what at work activities can
cause harm to people. It helps you to weigh up whether you have done enough to ensure
safe working practices or should do more to prevent harm. Your risk assessment should be
appropriate to the circumstances of your organisation and does not have to be over complex
or technical. It should be carried out by a competent person with a practical knowledge of
the work activities being assessed. For most small businesses, and the self-employed, the
hazards will be easy to identify. Employers who employ less than five people do not have to
record their findings, but they may find it helpful to make some notes.

Training

Are you satisfied that your drivers are properly trained?

_ Do you evaluate whether those that drive at work require additional training to carry
out their duties safely?
_ Do you provide induction training for drivers?
_ Do you arrange for drivers to be trained giving priority to those at highest risk,
eg those with high annual mileage, poor accident records, or young drivers?
_ Do drivers need to know how to carry out routine safety checks such as those on lights,
tyres and wheel fixings?
_ Do drivers know how to correctly adjust safety equipment, eg seat belts and
head restraints?
_ Do drivers know how to use anti-lock brakes (ABS) properly?
_ Do drivers know how to check washer fluid levels before starting a journey?
_ Do drivers know how to ensure safe load distribution, eg when undertaking
multi-drop operations?
_ Do drivers know what actions to take to ensure their own safety following the
breakdown of their vehicle?
_ Do you need to provide a handbook for drivers giving advice and information on
road safety?
_ Are drivers aware of the dangers of fatigue?
_ Do they know what they should do if they start to feel sleepy?
_ Are drivers fully aware of the height of their vehicle, both laden and empty? There are
estimated to be around three to six major bridge strikes every day.
DRIVING AT

The aim is to make the risk of someone being injured or killed, as low as possible.

Hazard means anything that can cause harm.

Risk is the chance, high or low, that someone will be harmed by the hazard.
Aimed at reducing the personal and financial costs to a company or organisation of road traffic incidents involving staff and the public.

Some 65% of road traffic crashes/accidents involve a vehicle driven on company business.
Companies are not immune from the real costs of crashes/accidents involving staff whilst driving in their own time for personal and private business.

Added to the personal suffering of employees and families, organisations can suffer tremendous financial loss through down time, lost production etc when a partner or family member is involved in a road traffic incident.

The benefits of such programmes extend beyond the company or organisation as information is disseminated to family, friends and the general public.

Courses can combine both theory and practical training. The theory aspect looks at the risks to individuals and offers coping strategies tailored to the organisation. The practical in-car assessments and training raise awareness of the individual driver to their responsibilities.
improve your drivers confidence and ability

Develop a positive attitude towards driving and other road users
- improve your concentration
- become more observant
- analyse and anticipate the actions of others
- create space and time to deal with hazards or your own or other’s mistakes.
- reduce vehicle abuse, and associated insurance costs.


Damien Burke

Blue School of Motoring Ltd

www.blueschoolofmotoring.com

0800 234 6823

PO Box 3995
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG42 3YX

1 comment:

Newrose said...

Good useful information every driver should know.