posted 31-01-2002 04:47 PM            

One important point on this matter is that safety on the road seems to have been excluded from the Health and Safety at Work Act, although I cannot see where that is stated.

The Road Traffic Laws apply to driving etc, but do not impose the duties on employers in the same way, for example of risk assessment.

Earlier this week lorry drivers were killed when their vehicles were blown over. Would it not have been 'reasonably practical' for them to have waited a day or two? Will we see prosecution of the employers?

Since the management regulations which mandate risk assessment are a response to a European Directive, will anyone killed or injured have a claim against the British Government?

What do Unison safety officers and lawyers think?

Regards

Phil McShane

posted 06-12-2001 10:36 AM            

The TUC today welcomed the report of the independent Work-Related Road Safety Task Group, which has backed TUC estimates of 1,000 deaths annually in work-related deaths on the road.

Commenting on the report, TUC General Secretary John Monks said:

'It’s time to end the hidden scandal of work-related deaths on the road. One thousand deaths a year is nearly three times the number of workers killed at the workplace and accounts for nearly a third of all road traffic deaths. Along with 12,000 serious injuries and 70,000 slight injuries, this adds up to a cost of £3.7bn to society and £2.7bn to employers. So as well as protecting workers, tackling this tragic toll will benefit business.

'This report makes it clear that driving for work is dangerous. There’s no longer any excuse for work-related road safety not to be treated as a health and safety issue. Employers must start carrying out risk assessments and developing good policies to protect their staff. It is clearly a criminal act that they should put their staff and others at risk by not managing the safety of their employees at work on the road. Like other health and safety law and guidance this needs to be backed up by HSE enforcement.

'The report makes it clear that while the immediate road-side investigation should be by the police there is a central role for the Health and Safety Executive. The Government should provide increased funding to enable the HSE to implement the recommendations of the task force, specifically to provide for the extra inspections that will be required, and to ensure proper coordination and cooperation between the various enforcement agencies involved.'