Fleet safety is no accident

Managing a fleet means more than purchasing and maintaining vehicles at the lowest cost to the organisation.

Under Section 21 of the OHS Act, an employer has a duty or responsibility to provide and maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe and healthy working environment for its employees.

For work related driving safety this means:

1. Information about safety features of vehicles and instruction on how to use them

2. Knowledge about the causes and effects of fatigue

3. Information about the safe use of the vehicle

4. Information about safe maintenance of the vehicle

How to develop work-related driving safety policies

Safe work-related driving requires careful planning and determined action. The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has joined with WorkSafe Victoria to recommend the following guidelines:

Make a plan before commencing the driving task

1. Create a culture of work related driving safety

2. Consult on work related driving safety

3. Develop work related driving safety policies and procedures

4. Select safe vehicles

5. Maintain a safe fleet

6. Ensure drivers are competent and fit to drive

7. Inform and supervise drivers

8. Plan trips to minimise risks

Identify the on-road risks and manage them

1. Speed

2. Drugs and Alcohol

3. Fatigue

4. Mobile phone use

5. Adverse conditions

6. In-vehicle distractions

Monitor and review the fleet’s performance

1. Emergency response

2. Recovery and reporting

3. Investigation

4. Routine monitoring

5. Review

If you’d like more information on how to make your fleet safer, download the complete document.