A hazard is something which can cause your business harm. For example, a car crash involving one of your drivers.
The chances of this happening is the risk. The higher the chance the higher the risk.
When considering the hazards your drivers are exposed to, try and think beyond the actual driving task. Before your driver even gets behind the wheel and starts the engine there are many potential hazards to consider. For example,
· Is the type of vehicle being used appropriate?
· Is the vehicle safely loaded?
· Time of journey and route planning?
· Alternative use of sustainable transport?
· Use of technology such as video conferencing?
Think about what hazards you can add to this list.
When considering potential hazards think about what you can reasonably do to reduce the risk associated with them. For example,
· Is the type of vehicle being used appropriate? If loads are bulky would a van be better suited to the task? Do you know what entitlement your driver has to allow them to drive a van?
· Is the vehicle safely loaded? What training have you given your driver to make sure the load is within the legal weight for the vehicle being driven? Is the load evenly distributed and restrained to make sure that in the event of a collision the load will not move forward and crush the driver?
· Time of the journey and route planning. Drivers are at a greater risk driving in the early hours. What policies do you have in place and what guidance do you provide regarding drivers hours or permissible daily mileage? Are your drivers regularly setting off at 3 am to get to where they need to be? Are drivers given enough time to safely get to their destination? How do they plan their routes and what support do you give them?
· Alternative use of sustainable transport. Could they travel by train, bus or plane?
· Use of technology such as video conferencing. Could you make more effective use of face to face technology?
Ask yourself who may be harmed? Think about what, who, where, when, why and how?
RELEARN
Record your findings
Evaluate the risks
Learn from near miss incidents
Encourage responsibility for a culture of safety from the top down
Ask your workforce for their ideas and opinions
Review, reassess and implement
No Action is not an option
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