Top Ten Tips for Fleet Risk Management

UNDERSTAND YOUR DUTY OF CARE

Employers are legally required ‘to carry out an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees’. That ‘includes any driving activity on the road’. See http://ift.tt/1TAoB8Y

GET COMMITMENT FROM LEADERSHIP

Start at the top. A road risk programme affects everyone who drives for work. Getting board-level sponsorship demonstrates that an occupational road risk programme is worthy of time and effort by all staff.

CONSIDER YOUR OWN SAFETY CULTURE

Safety is in the DNA of some companies because it’s core to what they do. In others, the risks and costs of collisions are not fully understood so it’s worth looking at your communications strategy to show everyone what’s at stake.

IDENTIFY YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT PARTNER

Find a partner who can offer you a fully comprehensive and integrated approach that can help you through management compliance, driver assessment and training and deliver tangible benefits to your bottom line.

REVIEW YOUR FLEET PROFILE

Take time to understand your whole fleet right from the start, including your grey leet. A fleet risk survey covering the company, vehicles and drivers can help you identify risks and set priorities.

SET ACHIEVABLE TARGETS

Building a successful programme is an ongoing process. Set some realistic timelines and goals, define what success means and give management and staff deadlines to work towards, or beat.

SHOW YOUR DRIVERS HOW IT BENEFITS THEM

Everybody thinks they are an above average driver; this means some can be difficult to get on board. Consider what’s in it for them and build these messages into your communications strategy.

VALIDATE, ASSESS, THEN TRAIN

Validate your employees’ entitlement to drive against the DVLA database via a contracted third-party provider. Then assess their risk exposure while driving. Any driver training should be relevant to their risks.

DON’T FORGET THE GREY FLEET

Duty of care covers all staff who drive for work, not just company car drivers. For those who drive their own vehicles for work; is their insurance adequate? Is their documentation up to date? Is their vehicle roadworthy?

KEEP IT RELEVANT AND FUN

Most of us drive everyday so it’s actually a life skill. Consider driver of the year competitions, event days or monetary incentives for fuel savings, to bring your strategy to life and achieve sustainable success.

The post Top Ten Tips for Fleet Risk Management appeared first on UK Construction Online.