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:
Article by Alexandra Johnston
