When employing a new driver, do you simply check their licence and entitlements, and then never look at it again?
If so, you could be setting your business up for problems down the line. The matter of fact is that your drivers’ competence and legality is your responsibility as well as theirs. While they have a duty to inform you of anything that may affect their work, you should have the mindset to keep updated with their fitness to drive and ability to work during their employment with your business. Although a driver only has to declare if they are fit enough to do the job they are employed for, and only to inform you of the medication that does affect their ability to work, what if they don’t?
How do you know if someone isn’t as fit as they were when joining your business? There may not be any tell-tale signs that one of your drivers shouldn’t be behind the wheel. It is vital that you are aware of any medications staff are taking which affect driving. This includes keeping record of any medical conditions your drivers have. Also, noting if they have any worrying attitudes or behaviour which link to any ailments, personal life or mental health issues, which can affect their ability to drive.
You should be informed if any of your drivers have received points on their operator licence requirement while driving their own vehicles. Or if they are taking medication which could impact on their ability to drive. Some hay fever treatments can have a highly sedative effect. Medicines prescribed by doctors can often have serious contradictions. For example, not being advised or allowed to drive while taking a prescription.
Consequences of Not Informing Your Managers
Back in 2014, a lorry driver was involved in a crash, which killed six people, and injured 15. It was found that the driver had hidden their ill health for years, such as consistent blackouts. They hid this so that they driver could retain jobs. If the proper precautions were in place and checks were made, this incident could have been avoided entirely.
This is one instance which highlights the ramifications of not knowing a driver’s health history. Nor keeping track of any symptoms they may show. The purpose of medical examinations for commercial driving is to give approval for someone to drive a vehicle.
These examinations are continued after you gain your HGV licence, but this mustn’t rest on the doctor’s shoulders.
Identifying driver impairments, as well as checking fitness to drive, without prying into their confidential medical history, is crucial to every transport operation. That is why it’s important to establish a robust checking process.
So, what can you do as a transport manager, to keep other road users and your drivers safe?
What To Do As A Transport Manager- 5 Top Tips
Additional Questions During Their Routine Checks
One way to check drivers on a regular basis is to add questions to their daily checks. This can be done either on paper or on an app. Questions such as “Have you had an alcoholic drink in the last 12 hours?” or “Have you started taking any medication that could affect your ability to drive?” offer an opportunity to remind employees of their obligations. This can prompt them to consider their behaviour and open up discussions if you suspect they are not fit to drive.
According to the NHS, “One unit equals 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol, which is around the amount of alcohol the average adult can process in an hour.” Individuals are advised to limit their units to no more than 14 a week. However, this doesn’t mean that you should have up to 14 units, especially if you are a full-time driver! Those who are hungover are often impaired, with slower reaction times and less likelihood to assess potential hazards as a result. This severely increases the risk of an accident occurring.
Basic Assessment of the person(s)
Implementing routine visual assessments can be a great way of not only deterring addictive behaviours, such as alcohol and drug use. But it can also be used as a way of monitoring the driver’s general health. Getting your drivers to stand at a 20 yard distance and read a vehicles’ licence plate is a way of checking their vision.
This can be done as part of a monitored walkaround check (a requirements under the guide to maintaining road worthiness.)
Raise Awareness
Be open with your drivers and raise the awareness of the laws of safe driving. Also, discuss any other legislations which include driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol and sleep deprivation. This can ensure that your employees understand that they can pose a risk if they choose to drive when they are not in the best state to do so. Toolbox talks are a way of encouraging these discussions within your fleet and team.
Drivers on night shifts should be offered information on sleep patterns, or medical assessments. This can help drivers get a better understanding of their health requirements and support for working during unsociable hours.
Encourage Discussions with your staff
Although it may seem like meeting all the other criteria outlined prior will help prevent incidents, your employees must feel that they can in fact discuss any health concerns with you in the first place. Starting talks and open discussions with your employees so that they can give their opinion will help them build a relationship with you. They will then feel more comfortable talking with you if they believe that they do have any medical or personal concerns which may affect their driving ability.
Being more constructive with your feedback, such as treating them as an equal and offering help and advice where possible will make your team feel supported. This stops them feeling discriminated by their afflictions they may have.
Vehicle Ergonomics
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explain how proper driving position and posture will help minimise the risk of medical issues occurring. Common issues include severe back pain. Accessibility of vehicle controls from the seat, headrest position and appropriate seat position is also imperative to fitness.
Showing employees how they can identify whether their seating arrangement is incorrect (and how to rectify this) will give drivers more flexibility in maintaining their health.
Mental Health Awareness
Medically fit drivers doesn’t stop at physical health. Mental health is just as important to understand within your staff. Understanding what your drivers are going through can help them feel more comfortable in confiding in you. The work environment should be supporting of drivers.
Because there is more support regarding mental health awareness, there are more resources available to utilise.
Giving your driver the appropriate resources, and being a voice of reason can aid them into feeling supported.
Be The Voice of Reason
By implementing these points in your business, you can help to reduce the risk of accidents caused by unfit drivers. It will also help build relationships between yourself and your employees, which can also boost morale.
In order to help your staff be open about their health and wellbeing, be open about yours.
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