COMPANY CAR DRIVERS WORST ON ROAD

According to the RAC, more than half of all company car drivers in Britain speed on motorways, and 30% have been convicted for speeding offences.

Significantly more company car drivers have points on their license than private car drivers, a fact that is likely to have a direct impact on corporate motor insurance premiums.

FATAL ACCIDENT COSTS FIRM £160,000

A building firm was last month fined £100,000 plus £60,000 legal costs, following the death of a sub-contractor on their site.

The sub-contactor was knocked down and killed by a reversing delivery van on an access road.  The presiding judge commented that the company had not installed or maintained proper measures to the use of the road, and that no risk assessment had ever been carried out.

The company was found to be in breach of sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which states:

  • “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”, and

  • “It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby, are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.”

THE PHONE IS DEADLIER THAN THE BOTTLE

According to research recently carried out, reaction times and 

overall performance of drivers using a mobile phone is substantially poorer than that of drivers marginally above the drink-drive limit.

Mobile phone users react to hazards 30% slower than drunk drivers, and their braking distance at 70mph is 11 metres further.

Currently the Highway Code advises never to use a hand-held phone while driving, and also to avoid using hands-free equipment.  Although not as dangerous as using a hand-held phone, using hands-free while driving is said to significantly reduce the level of concentration that the motorist gives to their driving.

ASTHMA AVOIDABLE

Recent research suggests that over 30% of all adult-onset asthma, can be attributed to exposure to asthma-causing substances in the workplace.  These substances could be substituted with safer alternatives, but fewer than 1 in 10 employers are doing this.

Every year, up to 7,000 adults develop asthma because of their work and it is thought that over the economy as a whole, asthma could cost £3 billion over the next decade.

TIRED DRIVING KILLS

A Campaign has been launched by the Minister for Road Safety, aimed at increasing awareness of the consequences of falling asleep at the wheel.

Research indicates that falling asleep while driving could be a factor in 10% of all road accidents, and in up to 20% of motorway (or dual carriageway) collisions.  This translates into 300 fatalities, and many thousands of injuries every year.

Here are some useful tips:

  • Never start a journey if you are already feeling sleepy

  • If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop – not on the hard shoulder

  • Stop for a 15 minute break every 2 hours on a long journey

  • Take a short nap and resume your journey 15-20 minutes later

  • Opening a window or turning up the radio will do little to stop you falling asleep

FREE HEALTH & SAFETY CHECK-UP

As a special offer, Winter & Company are offering a FREE Health & Safety Check-up for office environments located within the M25 (in & around London, UK).

To arrange an appointment or to find out more, simply fill out the form on the Winter & Company web site (www.health-safety.net) or call us on 020-7224 9990.

  If you are an existing client of Winter & Company, and you know someone who could benefit from a FREE Health & Safety Check-up, just fill in the form on the “recommend a friend” page on the Winter & Company web site (www.health-safety.net), and we will send them some information.

If they decide to use our services, we will as a thank you, send you £40 worth of Marks & Spencer vouchers, as soon as payment is received  from them!

For information on health & safety matters in your office, including “questions & answers”, see our web site at www.health-safety.net.