|
15 November 2006 - Action Needed for Work
Vehicle Accidents
Navigation
Britain's General Union, GMB, highlighting the number of work vehicle
accidents on our roads, are calling for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to
take urgent action for the prevention of Britain's 150 work-related vehicle
crashes per day.
GMB's call for action follows the annual road casualty statistics produced by
the Department for Transport (DfT), which recorded for the first time purposes
of journeys.
The recording of purposes for journeys, highlighted that work vehicles were
involved in more than 54,000 crashes in 2005, which relates to 150 per day.
GMB would like changes to the workplace accident reporting regulations of
RIDDOR to include all serious work-related road traffic accidents.
John McClean, GMB National Safety Officer said:
"At a time when the HSE claim that workplace deaths are at
their lowest recorded level there is a concern among GMB members, many of whom
drive as part of their daily work, that not enough is being done to ensure that
they and others are safe on our roads.
"Long hours of working drivers, a lack of regular breaks and
unnecessarily tight deadlines all lead to dangerous driving conditions in many
occupations.
"There is a need for the HSE to investigate all work related
deaths, including those on the road which are currently not part of the
reporting regime."
Although the DfT takes the lead on matters relating to road
safety, the HSE and the DfT have worked together to take forward recommendations
from an Independent Work-Related Road Safety Task Group.
A joint guidance from the DfT and HSE is available, in pdf
format, and can be accessed by clicking the following:
Driving at Work - Managing work related road safety
Further information can be accessed from the DfT Website by
clicking the following:
Department for Transport
Article by Alexandra Johnston
 Click Here to
Email This Article To a Friend
|
