HSE starts debate on at-work road-traffic safety

Preventing at-work road traffic incidents is the title of a discussion document recently issued by the Health and Safety Executive which also held a day-long conference to stimulate debate on the issue.

Each year about 3,500 people are killed on our roads and 40,000 are seriously injured. In total there are nearly 250,000 accidents and 300,000 road casualties every year. Indications are that a third of all these accidents may involve someone who is at work at the time. Company car drivers driving over 25,000 miles a year are as likely to be killed at work as building workers.

The discussion document sets out what a road risk-management approach might cover and seeks comments on how to encourage employers to put measures in place and what advice they might need. The discussion period lasts until 25 May.

Copies of Preventing at-work road traffic incidents are available from HSE Books, tel: 01787-881165 or on the web at: www.hse.gov.uk/disdocs/