OH professionals’ opinions are concerned on whether employers should take
greater responsibility for their drivers at work
Occupational health professionals are being urged to join in a debate on the
best way to manage safety issues for those driving or working on or beside
roads.
A discussion document has been issued by the Work-related Road Safety Task
Group, an independent body set up by the Health and Safety Commission and the
DETR.
It is seeking views on whether employers should manage at-work road risk in
the same way as other OH safety risks, or whether there should be a specific
test for occupational drivers.
The document, Preventing At-Work Road Traffic Incidents, sets out what a
road risk management approach might encompass, and is looking for comments on
how best to encourage employers to put measures in place.
It is also looking at the balance that has to be struck between the
responsibility of employers to manage road risk and the duties of drivers and
those working on or near roads to do so safely.
Independent research by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the
task group has concluded that between 25 per cent and more than 33 per cent of
all serious road traffic accidents involve someone at work.
Richard Dykes, chairman of the task group and group managing director of
mail services at the Post Office, said: "The estimate that up to a
thousand people die on the roads in incidents that are connected to work is
startling."
An HSC spokeswoman added it was "quite crucial" that OH
professionals got involved in the debate at an early stage . The discussion
period will last until May 25.
Those wishing to comment should write to The Task Group Secretariat, Health
and Safety Executive, SPDA2, 5SW, Rose Court, Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS
or telephone 020 7717 6841/6340/6059 or e-mail spd.work.roadsafety@hse.gsi.gov.uk
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