It's an 83 page document, prepared in consultation with numerous experts and agencies, including road safety consultants, the Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety in Queensland, and commissioned by the National Transport Commission, (Australia) and Accident Compensation Corporation, (New Zealand). That means it's a bilateral, scientifically endorsed, best-practice document. Exactly what you need when setting out to make important changes to a workplace Health and Safety programme.
It also happens to be formatted in an easy-to-follow way, highlighting important messages and key questions. To access it, visit this link. For more info and some samples from the document, read on!
We particularly like the section on “Commonly identified work related road safety issues”.
Some examples of 'Key Questions' the document asks us to consider are:
- Are you and your organisation managing the risk associated with road use with the same level of diligence and consideration as every other work related risk and hazard?
- Who within your organisation is responsible for vehicle related safety?
- Within your organisation what mechanisms are used to actively promote vehicle safety?
- Are vehicle induction procedures a component of your vehicle safety program?
Some other interesting snippets that we liked:
On looking to solve the road safety problem with one silver bullet:
"Unfortunately, all too often organisations looking to improve work driving safety fail to take on a comprehensive approach, but rather look for one intervention 'the silver bullet' to improve work related driving safety (Wishart & Davey, 2004). In many instances, organisations will utilise ‘behind the wheel’ driver training as a potential solution or the retro fitting of technological devices.
"Furthermore, skill improvements across any work setting, including vehicle use, does not automatically translate into safer behaviour, especially if underlying organisational and personal factors of influence are not adequately addressed.
On the practical steps of implementation:
- "Communication and education is a considerable aspect of Workplace Health and Safety legislation and employers have an obligation to ensure safety communication processes are in place.
- "Within many organisations work related road safety is not communicated as thoroughly as other workplace hazards and risks.
- "One glance around an organisation’s safety notice board will determine if there are any posters or communication notices relating to driving safety for work. Within organisations, notice boards, emails, newsletters, tool box talks and staff meetings highlight a variety of safety issues, although many organisations rarely promote vehicle safety processes in the same manner.
- "It is suggested that any road safety related initiatives that are developed should be undertaken with the intent to implement as an integrated part of “the way things are done around here” and not an add-on to an organisations management and operational activities."
On the purpose of training and education:
"To support improved safety of road use by employees and other related parties - should not only seek to foster compliance with the law but to go beyond the minimum legislative requirements and achieve safer behavioural outcomes."
You can access this fantastic document at this link. Thanks must go to the NRSPP (you can read more about how the doc came to be at their website here), and we'd love to hear your feedback!
