Workplace accidents can occur in a variety of ways, and they’re time-consuming, stressful and costly for both businesses and workers. Personal injuries can leave an employee unable to work and, in very severe cases, they can leave you with lifelong disabilities, so preventing them is essential, whatever your role in a company. For those who spend a large proportion of their workday on the road, there are different risks to avoid.

Managing health & safety on the go

There are many benefits to improving the management of health and safety for all staff, including those who work on the road. Successful management of work-related road accidents not only protects employees from harm, but also reduces the risks of pedestrian claims and hefty fines from prosecutions, together with lowering injury-related absences. 

Businesses that can successfully reduce the risk posed to drivers will see lower insurance premiums, and will have less stress caused from having employees out of action while they recover. Driving for work is one of the most dangerous business-related activities that employees can engage in, with vehicle accidents one of the most prevalent forms of personal injury lawsuit.

Traffic accidents are just one of the threats to safety when the road is your office, and it’s not just an employee’s own behaviour which needs to be considered but also that of other drivers. When you consider the risk of drunk drivers, texting while driving or faults with the vehicle itself, to name just a few, the seriousness of incidents becomes higher.  So, staying on top of health and safety measures is critical for staff safety and that of the general public. 

The key considerations of road safety for staff

Many employers feel that if they’re complying with the relevant road legislation, by making sure staff have a valid driver’s licence and MOT on their vehicle, they’ve done enough to ensure the safety of their employees. But that isn’t true. Managing road safety for employees goes further than just a valid licence, and employers have a duty to risk assess driving for work activities to prevent as much danger as possible. 

Drivers

Staff need to be competent drivers and have a good understanding of their vehicle to be able to drive safely and prevent accidents, but this isn’t a one-and-done situation. Employers should make sure that this requirement is checked periodically, and additional training given for drivers if needed to ensure they have the right standard of competence to be safe (also known as defensive driving training). 

Drivers also need to make sure they’re fit and healthy enough to drive safely, so they don’t put themselves and others on the road at risk. For example, studies show that road collisions caused by poor vision account for 17% of accidents in the UK. Providing staff with annual eye tests and health checks can help prevent people from driving when they’re not capable. 

Regular maintenance of vehicles

Vehicles need to be checked that they’re fit for purpose, which goes beyond a standard MOT. Employers and drivers alike need to stay on top of vehicle checks, ensuring that tyre pressure is kept topped up, the engine and transmission are working properly, that there’s windscreen fluid for keeping the screen visible and that the brake pads aren’t worn. If the driver is transporting goods, it’s also important to check that the items are stored safely, such as in the boot of a car rather than on the back seat. These checks are often overlooked but they could pose a real threat to safety if something goes wrong when the vehicle is in motion. 

Journey planning

Up to 20% of road accidents are sleep-related, and they pose as much of a risk to safety as drunk driving. So there’s a responsibility for employers to plan routes carefully so that drivers have plenty of opportunities for a break after every two hours of driving, and longer trips between midnight and 6am are avoided where possible unless overnight stays can be accommodated to avoid fatigue. Just as when in the office, drivers’ work schedules need to be realistic and plenty of breaks given — especially for HGV drivers who are likely to be driving for longer. Weather conditions also make a big difference to driver safety, so when employees are facing adverse weather conditions, they need to either drive at a slower pace or postpone their trip entirely until it’s safer to drive. 

Stress and mental health

When we’re stressed or struggling with our mental health, it’s not possible to focus properly and that can lead to accidents. Many injuries are caused by repetitive activities, where we become complacent or lack focus over time, while others might be caused by distractions when our mind is elsewhere. There are various reasons for mental health issues, from anxiety related to overwhelming workloads, to positive stressors like getting married or being promoted. These can be great on paper but might be adding extra tension or distractions to one’s workday. Companies need to be mindful of the mental health of their employees, especially those who aren’t in the office every day, because it could be a risk to their concentration. 

In-car distractions

In-car distractions are just as detrimental to our ability to drive safely as those outside of the vehicle. From paying attention to satnavs to mobile phones, drinking and eating, or other people in the car, there are various distractions that can be a problem. Companies need to have clear policies on these issues so that staff are able to minimise these disturbances when they’re paying attention to the road. 

Risk assessments for work-related road safety are just as crucial to a business as in-house safety policies, and there are various resources that can be called upon to ensure that anyone needing to drive for work is kept safe. Businesses have a duty of care to all their staff, regardless of where they spend their working day, and these checks will hopefully keep staff protected when they’re working.