A new road safety campaign has revealed that employers are not meeting health and safety requirements for the UK’s grey fleet , employees who drive for work.
The Down Inequality campaign by Driver First Assist is urging employers to ensure that the same training and support offered to fixed workers is also available to grey fleet drivers.
It has warned they could face prosecution if they don’t provide first aid training and immediate access to support in an emergency.
David Higginbottom, Driver First Assist chief executive, said: “Employers have a legal and moral duty to protect their people, wherever they work. If you wouldn’t leave a warehouse or office team without first aid support, why is it considered acceptable for drivers?”
Grey fleet statistics
The campaign comes following statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealing that around one in three road deaths and one in five serious injuries involve someone driving for work.
Beverley Bell, former senior traffic commissioner for Great Britain, said:
“Companies have a duty to train their employees and ensure they are competent and safe to carry out their role. If you employ drivers, the same applies. Work-related road safety is still not given the same gravitas as on-site safety. Given that driving is the highest-risk activity most people do in their job roles, this baffles me.”
