Workplace Vehicle Safety



Top cause of work related injuries
Motor vehicle crashes cost employers $60 billion annually in medical care, legal expenses, property damage and lost productivity. They also drive up the cost of workers' compensation, Social Security, and private health and disability insurance. In addition, they increase the company overhead involved in administering these programs. The average crash costs an employer $16,500. When a worker has an on-the-job crash that results in an injury, the cost to their employer is approximately $74,000. When a fatality is involved, costs can exceed $500,000.

10 steps to improve workplace vehicle safety
1. Senior management must commit to following safety practices and employees must be involved.
2. Develop a clear, comprehensive and enforceable set of traffic safety policies and communicate them to all employees.
3 Establish a contract with all employees who drive for work purposes, whether they drive assigned company vehicles or drive their personal vehicles
4. Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) checks must be completed for new employees and reviewed periodically to ensure that the driver maintains a good driving record.
5. Establish and enforce a crash reporting and investigation process. All crashes, regardless of severity, should be reported to the employee's supervisor as soon as feasible after the incident.
6. Select, properly maintain and routinely inspect company vehicles to help prevent crashes and related losses
7. Develop a strategy to determine the course of action after the occurrence of a moving violation and/or “preventable” crash.
8. Establish a driver reward/incentive program to make safe driving an integral part of your business culture. Safe driving behaviors contribute directly to the bottom line and should be recognized as such.
9. Provide continuous driver safety training and communication. Even experienced drivers benefit from periodic training and reminders of safe driving practices and skills.
10. Ensure adherence to highway safety regulations. It is important to clearly establish which, if any, local, state, and/or federal regulations govern your vehicles and/or drivers.

For more information on reducing risk or any of our other services, please contact Jeff Harrison at jeff.harrison@cbservices.org or 800.807.0300 ext 2543

For more information visit www.nsc.org

Information and recommendations are compiled from sources believed to be reliable. The National Safety Council makes no guarantee as to and assumes no responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency or completeness of such information or recommendations. Other or additional safety measures may be required under particular circumstances. Last Revised: 04/09