Posted By BS I currently spend a lot of time on the road with work travelling round Britain(approximately 15 nights a month). Would anyone consider this as requiring a risk assessment? I have been asked the question my self and did wonder if it was all going a bit too far. However I would appreciate anyone's comments or opinions.

Posted By Merv Newman Yes. I'm in about the same position as you. Averaging about 30 000 miles and 150 to 200 hotel nights per year. On the road and staying in a strange hotel are the most dangerous parts of our jobs. Even a building site is safer than the A1 For the car, go through the Institute of Advanced Motoring ie learn to be road-wise and defensive. You don't need to do a RA before each trip but you do need to be aware of the level of risk. I try to stick to motorways even if it means a few extra miles. They are much safer (not "safe") and there is less chance of someone driving at you head-on. (less, not zero) For the hotel, try to standardise on a well known chain. (I know that that quaint little pub in St Albans stocks it's spirits (highly flammable) under the main (highly flammable) staircase) Great beer, great food, but I am not sleeping there. When you get to your room check the fire exits. When you go to the restaurant, think about food hygiene. Does the waiter smell, are fingernails clean, etc. Cheers. Have a nice trip. Merv

Posted By Merv Newman Looks like Jeffrey was answering at the same time as me. Our company policy is a 10 hour day and/or 400 miles driven per day. 400 miles on motorways takes up about 6 hours. Which means I can drive 200 miles for an afternoon meeting and then get back home the same day. I've just come back from a training day 250 miles away. Went down Wednesday, stayed overnight, training on Thursday, came back today. And no, we don't get paid overtime. You are on an annual salary and that is your job. But I spent this afternoon in the garden. Stuff the office until Monday. Merv

Posted By J Knight Agree with everything said so far. Take HGV standard hours as a starting point for the extremes which can be allowed in a working day, but you should be driving for much less as you have other work to do as well as drive. I'm trying to get a maximum 10 hour day including driving here, and driving to occupy less than half of the total. There was a case in Lincolnshire about a guy working in a potato factory (funny, I thought they grew them) who was killed on his way home after falling asleep. His employers were prosecuted under HASAWA because he had been working 11 hour days for a week. He wasn't even at work at the time, John PS Spellcheck has never heard of Lincolnshire