Driving for Work
(September 2004)
Driving is a dangerous work activity. Statistics show that about 20 people are killed and 250 seriously injured every week in crashes involving someone who was driving, riding or otherwise using the road for work purposes.
It should be appreciated that health and safety law applies to on-the-road work activities as to all work activities and that the associated risks should be effectively managed within School/Unit health and safety arrangements and procedures.
Schools/Units must therefore asses the foreseeable risks involved to staff and other persons who are required to use the road for work and put in place reasonably practicable measures to manage those risks.
Action by Heads
Heads of Schools/Units should ensure that appropriate risk assessments are carried out for staff and any others who are required to use the road on School/Unit business. Advice and resources on all aspects of managing occupational road risk is given in the documents listed below.
Heads should also ensure that all relevant persons within their School/Unit are made aware of the following:
- the need to verify that the vehicle insurance is valid for the purpose;
- the legal requirements regarding the use of hand held mobile phones while driving.
Guidance Documents
- HSE Guide, 'Driving at Work'
- RoSPA, 'Driving for work: Safe journey planner'
- 'Managing Occupational Road Risk: The RoSPA Guide' (price £25.00)
- 'Driver Sleepiness'. DfT road safety research report 21 (Road safety section)
- Driver Training
- The Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ORSA)
- Work related road safety
- Managing Occupational Road Risk (MORR)
- University of St Andrews 'Guidance on the Safe Use of Minibuses'
- University of St Andrews 'Use of Hand Held Mobile Telephones While Driving'