Posted By Lorraine Yarr
As part of looking at our current Occupational Road Risk I want to put together a form for drivers to fill in on an annual basis, so we can keep up to date on expiry dates, categories, convictions, accidents etc. Can anyone offer me any guidance on doing this and what sort of information is important to collect?

Posted By Richard Sutherland
I've dealt with this issue before when I was employed as an OSH Manager. As the previous posting said, make sure you aren't bogging yourself down too much in driver's activities outside of work.

However, the problem comes in your exercising due dilligence in making sure that any equipment being used by your employees during the course of their normal duties is suitable and safe. This can, of course, include employees using their own vehicles.

Your form would need to require the employee to declare not only that they were adequately licensed, insured and that their vehicles were roadworthy (MOT if applicable) but that they will report any instance of damage or deterioration at any time should it occur and be likely to make a vehicle potentially unsafe. They would also need to declare that they would report any medical condition making them potentially unsafe in a vehicle (e.g epilepsy, sight impairments) - a very good reason why compliance with the DPA is so important.

You can't put into place procedures enforcing regular vehicle inspections of people's own personal property - but you can educate them to take responsibility for that property.

I would also ensure that your peripatetic/mobile workers have been adequatley trained and made aware of road traffic risks. Do you have a peripatetic workers policy which is made readily available?

Hope this helps