Ten things to include in your driving for work policy

Ten things to include in your driving for work policy

Many workers across the West Midlands drive as part of their job and while workplace health and safety laws don’t apply to regular commuting, the laws do apply to driving related to work activities. That’s why companies should always have a ‘driving for work’ policy. These policies allow employers to outline driving best practices to protect the health and safety of their workers and other road users.

So what are ten must-haves to include in your policy?

1. Driver eligibility

Specify the criteria for being eligible to drive. Some of the constraints you might set out are driving license verification and certifications for certain vehicles such as forklifts and HGVs.

2. Fitness to drive

Implement medical assessments such as eye tests and audiometry, and educate workers on best practices like being well rested and not consuming drugs or alcohol before driving.

3. Insurance

Outline the coverage required for driving at work, including vehicle insurance and any additional insurance for work related driving activities.

4. Expenses

Provide clear guidelines for what employees will and won’t be reimbursed for, such as fuel, tolls and parking fees. This will help you avoid any difficult conversations in the future.

5. Road safety

Emphasise the importance of following road safety laws and provide guidelines on speed limits, wearing seatbelts and phone usage.

6. Mobile phones

Establish rules for the use of mobile phones while driving, including texting, calls and using hands free devices.

7. Route planning

Advise employees to plan trips in advance to minimise their time on the road, avoid high traffic areas and be mindful of weather hazards or dangerous road conditions.

8. Vehicle requirements

Outline minimum vehicle standards to ensure that employees are driving vehicles that are fit for purpose and road safe.

9. Maintenance

Set standards for maintenance requirements such as MOTs and services to reduce the risk of accident or injury due to vehicle malfunction.

10. Reporting

Establish procedures for reporting accidents, near misses and issues with vehicles. Encourage an open environment where employees feel comfortable raising their concerns.

How can we help?

Medical assessments help you ensure that your workforce is fit to drive. To learn more about our assessments, head over to our medicals page…

https://mohs.co.uk/services/occupational-health/medicals/