Automotive risk assessment covers a range of job types. The risk management needs will vary depending on how much time a person spends driving, the vehicle used and also what other work environments the van driver is required to be in.
Identifying the Potential Hazards for Van Drivers
Weather conditions are a potential hazard and one that is especially unpredictable. Your automotive risk assessment should consider the effects of bad weather conditions like poor visibility for the driver. Driving conditions will also vary, depending on the route — for example, rural roads account for 62% of road fatalities, with the automotive risks associated with country roads ranging from floods to horses on the road. Drivers should be prepared for the different eventualities they may come across, so a specific risk assessment based on the area of work can help pre-empt key issues.
Depending on what your load is, the specific contents of the vehicle may require a more detailed risk assessment. Fire hazards and explosions should be assessed in all cases, but especially if the contents of your vehicle will increase the risk of fire or explosion. Vehicles carrying dangerous goods may be required to display relevant hazard information panels as part of maintaining overall vehicle compliance with safety regulations..
Exhaustion is an increased risk to the safety of van drivers and can be caused by any number of things. Drivers should know their limits and understand they are responsible for taking breaks as and when needed. For this to work, though, organisations must have a culture where taking breaks for safety reasons isn’t frowned upon. The responsibility of ensuring drivers are taking the breaks they need may lie with the driver. But management must communicate that compliance with health and safety takes priority over meeting deadlines. The development and implementation of a company driving policy may assist and give clarity around this area as well as being very useful in supporting the assessment process.
Who Is at Risk — and How?
These potential hazards put the driver at risk of road traffic accidents. The time a driver spends alone driving should be considered in your automotive risk assessment, as lone working has increased risks associated with poor mental health and wellbeing.
Other road users will also be at risk, especially in areas of high traffic. Other drivers also pose a risk in many circumstances, from speeding and distracted driving. The risk assessment should also include pedestrians as a potential hazard — more so if the driver needs to be on sites or depots with high pedestrian footfall.
How You Currently Manage Automotive Risks
Some measures may feel like common sense and any sensible vehicle owner or operator will consider precautions such as parking in safe areas. However, just because this is a fairly standard procedure does not mean you shouldn’t be detailing the specifics of it in your risk assessment. All processes you implement should be included.
A manageable workload is an excellent preventative measure for automotive risks such as fatigue. Employers are required to manage automotive health and safety, putting measures in place to ensure the safety of drivers. Ensuring drivers have a full understanding of what is required of them and are competent in any checks they are responsible for is crucial to keeping them safe. Training can help combat many of the risks to van drivers, as this gives them the knowledge they need to respond to each eventuality outlined in the automotive risk assessment. If a driver is attempting a roadside fix without the proper skills, they will be significantly more at risk.
Additional Control Action Required
Ongoing distractions while driving will be a daily hazard that drivers need to be aware of, such as using a mobile phone whilst driving. That’s why all devices should be mounted to the dashboard or put away.
Wear and tear of a vehicle will also increase potential risks, so make sure drivers know how to check their vehicle for automotive risks, record their findings, and that management ensures these checks are made and that any identified maintenance issues are dealt with. You could also consider signing up to CHAS’ vehicle compliance scheme.
Who Is Responsible For Carrying Out Actions?
Ultimately the driver is responsible for maintaining good practice. They will largely be left to their own devices, so they need to self manage to ensure vehicle safety checks are in place and standards are being met.
Van drivers must be vigilant when they are solely responsible for the vehicle, and take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of themselves and the van.
Deadline for Automotive Risk Assessment Actions
Pressing actions will need to be addressed before the vehicle can be declared fit for purpose. Training and verification checks must be completed before the driver can go out on a job, so they are prepared to deal with any risks. As automotive risks are ongoing, training and refreshers in training should be frequent.
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