Road safety charter pilot prompts IOSH call for employer action

IOSH calls for employer action over road safety

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has called on employers to take action to prevent work-related road traffic incidents, as a new UK charter is being piloted to set a national standard for organisations that require people to drive or ride for work.

The organisation linked the call to the National Work Related Road Safety Charter pilot, which it said covers employers whose staff use HGVs, vans, cars, motorcycles, e cycles and cycles.

IOSH said the pilot forms part of measures in the Government’s new road safety strategy.

It said the strategy aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035.

Charter pilot sets national standards

The charter is designed to help organisations in the public and private sectors reduce work related road risk, IOSH said.

It said the charter promotes good practice, clear accountability and compliance with existing legislation.

IOSH said employer leadership is essential to reduce work related road harm.

It said this requires work-related road risk to be embedded in health and safety management systems and risk assessments.

IOSH points to fatality estimate

IOSH said an estimated one in three road traffic fatalities involve someone travelling for work purposes.

The organisation said this estimate means businesses should do more to manage work-related road risk.

IOSH said it welcomed the charter pilot.

It added that it wants work-related road traffic incidents included as a reporting requirement under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).

Policy lead sets out expectations

Ruth Wilkinson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at IOSH, said: “Work shouldn’t cost lives.

“As part of health and safety law, employers have a clear legal and moral duty of care that extends beyond the physical workplace, and covers all work activities – including driving and riding for work.

“It includes driving your own vehicle when using it for business, and it can include commuting to and from work if you are travelling to a location that is not your normal place of work.

“Preventing harm and protecting people on the road is part of protecting people at work — and business leaders must act now.

“The Charter is a decisive step forward.

“It sets expectations for board level oversight, competent risk management, and robust controls across all vehicle types — from HGVs and vans to motorcycles, e cycles and cycles.

“Good practice must be non negotiable: fit for purpose and safe vehicles; safe scheduling that eliminates fatigue and allows enough time for a safe journey; competent, fit and capable drivers and riders; zero tolerance for distraction and impairment; and data driven monitoring of incidents and near misses.

“Compliance with the law is the floor, not the ceiling.”

Controls and alternatives highlighted

IOSH said managers should consider alternatives to driving, such as train travel or video- and tele-conferencing.

It said organisations should have arrangements for drivers and riders to report incidents and near misses.

IOSH said this is intended to support learning and action to prevent reocurrence.