Did you know that every time you step into your company car or work vehicle, you are subject to health and safety regulations?
A commercial vehicle is deemed a work-place and as such you should have a work related safe driving program.
To assist fleet managers and commercial vehicle owners understand and implement this, VACC is promoting a new guidebook at Freight Week 2009 (7-11 September).
The ‘Guide to Safe Work Related Driving’ provides practical advice to employers and employees on measures they can take to reduce risks associated with work related driving.
“As an employer, if you instruct someone to use a vehicle for work purposes, the buck stops with you. It is your responsibility to make sure the vehicle is safe,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.
“Likewise, if you are driving a vehicle on a work related matter, it is your duty to drive the vehicle in a safe manner by driving within the speed limits, using seatbelts and taking breaks.
“The ‘Guide to Safe Work Related Driving’ contains important information that every manager and driver of a commercial vehicle must read,” Mr Purchase said.
The ‘Guide to Safe Work Related Driving’ has been produced by Work Safe and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
VACC advises all managers and commercial vehicle drivers to use common sense and consider the health and safety implications of each journey. Companies should review their current policies and, if necessary, introduce and enforce the practices set out in the ‘Guide to Safe Work Related Driving’.
The key benefits of Safe Work Related Driving include:
- Reduced death and injury and all their related personal, social and economic costs;
- Greater productivity through increases in vehicle use;
- Greater ability to manage the fleet safely by using fleet safety and incident information
To obtain a free copy of the ‘Guide to Safe Work Related Driving’, go to vacc.com.au