Written by: Sussex Safer Roads
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As a quick reminder, the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act now places a much greater duty of care on company owners, directors and fleet managers in respect of their road risk policies. Companies or organisations can now be convicted if one of their employees is killed or seriously injured while driving for work, should it be found that there have been gross failures in the way that activities have been managed to reduce that risk. Penalties for such convictions range from an unlimited fine, a publicity order, or imprisonment for individuals who have been prosecuted for gross negligence, manslaughter or culpable homicide.
This is clearly not good for business and the COSTS project team is here to help.
Over the last year we have engaged with a number of economic development teams, business forums and the Federation of Small Businesses, raising awareness around the risks posed by companies having no, or weak, occupational road risk policies. We have produced materials to support managers in the development of policies and a variety of products answering many of the queries raised by those who drive on business, helping them to drive more safely.
It is not just about having a good policy; it is about promoting road safety as a culture within the workforce. You can have the most perfect policy possible, but if it is not implemented or promoted effectively, then it is as good as not having a policy at all. An important outcome of any occupational road risk policy is that it generates a road safety ‘buy in’ from the workforce.
To help companies achieve this goal, the COSTS project team has developed a package which includes an occupational road risk policy assessment. This is normally followed by a member of the team facilitating a ‘Lunch and Learn’ workshop with managers and staff who drive for the company so they can interact together and develop a better understanding of the important issues around having a sound policy and culture.
Although the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance is principally aimed at companies with five or more employees, the level of risk doesn’t diminish for smaller firms and may even increase for single operator companies whose owners have to do everything themselves and therefore may be more tired or distracted behind the wheel.
This assessment service and the ‘Lunch and Learn’ workshops are open to everybody, no company is too small and the COSTS team are keen to engage with you, whatever the size and scale of your business.
The ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions are free of charge, although we do ask that you supply the lunch! A white board and pens, plus a projector and screen are also required. The team can also deliver ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions to a number of small businesses simultaneously, and the maximum number for any of these events is 12 people. A full assessment of your company’s road risk policies is free of charge and normally takes around an hour and a half.
To find out more about what COSTS means to your business, and to book a ‘Lunch and Learn’ session, please visit our website:
www.costsproject.co.uk.
