Are your commercial vehicles complying with basic UK health and safety laws?

It’s imperative that your business takes the appropriate measures required to ensure commercial vehicles in use by staff comply with basic health and safety laws.

Injuries and accidents in the workplace can greatly affect your business, and the Health and Safety Executive can confirm that 5,000 people are injured in workplace accidents relating to transport, while 50 are tragically killed. As the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states: “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of his employees.”

Now, after Brexit, the health and safety laws in place may change over time but for now work through this checklist to ensure the commercial vehicles within your SME are compliant:

Have you conducted a risk assessment?

Assessments are important as they highlight areas of your transport policies and implementation that need work to ensure the safety of you and those you employ. Identify the risks and then carry out the appropriate measures required to prevent them or combat them should they occur. Use the HSE’s workplace transport checklist to determine what you need to look for.

Have you provided the correct training?

Different vehicles require different levels of training to handle them, which is why it’s important you check what is required for each one and ensure your staff have the qualifications to get behind the wheel.

Are your vehicles checked regularly?

Vehicles must be in good working condition to be used for their commercial purpose, this means regular inspections, services and ensuring they are put in for their MOT on time. If your SME is relatively small you could oversee this aspect of transport health and safety yourself, or delegate the role to a trusted member of staff. Vehicles are considered shared workplaces, so they must be covered by the health and safety policies that apply to your general site.

Are your employees aware of your policies?

It’s important you consult your employees about what is expected of them when using vehicles in the workplace and out on the roads. Listen to any concerns they might have and attempt to resolve these quickly.

Are the journeys planned safe?

It’s important the routes commercial drivers must navigate while on the job do not put them in harm's way. ROSPA has a great guide on how to plan safer journeys to ensure staff are protected at all times and never in immediate danger. Routes with regular planned breaks should be implemented as well as awareness around tiredness while driving, the effects of drugs and alcohol and controlling drivers’ hours.

Whether you are investing in cars for your workforce or renting commercial vehicles from the Lease Van brand abiding by health and safety laws is of the utmost priority when it comes to transport in your workforce. Double check you have everything covered in the list above and feel confident that your staff are safe and protected while doing their work.