Good Morning all, hoping someone out there can help me. 

I am the H&S Manager on a fairly remote manufacturing site. We are located on a country road a couple of miles away from the nearest village/town. There are no footpaths along these roads and they are not lit.    Most of our employees travel to and from work in cars, however some ride bycicles and a few walk. Most of those riding bycicles or walking are agency workers, employed by the labour provider we use.

I have always thought that our responsibility for the safety of our workers ends at the front gate, if they are not engaged in company work. I have been asked to comfirm this.

We have built a foot path from the site to the nearest bus stop about 200m away, issued high viz vests and provided guidance lifted from the highway code on cycling and walking along roadsides. We have also had fruitless discussions with the highways agency about providing more extensive footpath, and have sucessfully negotiated an onsite bus stop to be added to the morning and evening bus service past our site.

My question is, where/when does our duty of care to workers end?   could anyone point me to any specific guidance? 

Thanks Phil 

Unless you require them to walk or bicycle to work as part of their job role, I think you have done over and above your duty of care.

They have the option of the bus which you now have stop at your workplace. Also, has there actually been any accidents?

Short of encouraging a car share scheme, I can't see there is much more you can do.

Thanks for this.  You have all echoed what I already knew. I agree, if we are responsible for employees when they where does it end? Checking headlights, brakes, torch and Hi-Viz etc etc...??? 

I was just looking for something concrete, however the 'at work' statement in the H&S at work act, probably covers this adequately. I have now passed this over to our insurers to comment on.

RE; the path. It’s on our land and runs parallel to the road on our side of the hedge, so its covered by our insurance. It leads directly to our site so the only ones that use it are people coming to our site. 

Our company is similar - hi-vis while on the site, but as soon as you are out of the gate, it's up to you.

Also had a few complaints about some of the driving offsite, on the way here, and the response is always to contact the local police regarding these incidents on the public highways.

Historically we have had (small, cheap!) torches given out at safety events too, but the overall conclusion is it all stops at the gates!

Specific legislation/guidance, The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act it's in the title.

My previous company held the rule that if the person is paid by the company to travel the duty of care was applied to them. From home to normal place of work was unpaid so it was indeed get here and get home under your own steam/safety awareness.

If on a work trip and timed/paid from the door then it was work time and full duty of care was appplied until return home. Of course all company provided equipment (physically supplied or car allowance) had full company coverage and checks made on equipment and insurances.

Great efforts were also made to change choices and culture by our team to promote good personal safety discipline by all "at work, at home and inbetween" as we chant!