Posted By J Knight
This is a very big subject and cannot be fully answered in this forum.

Mobile Cranes would be classed as PUWER, so the usual controls and so on deriving from a PUWER & and assessment under the regs would apply. Did traffic safety form part of the process for selecting and speccing the vehicle? What was the servicing, maintenance and checking regime and so on.

Driver training would also fall out of the PUWER assessment, and it would be useful if the employer was able to demonstrate that some sort of training needs analysis had been done to identify if training beyond the statutory minimum was needed, and if so, whether this had been provided. Training should focus on individual driver need rather than being generic.

What is the Policy for control of vehicles like? Are there defined lines of management, and is accountability and responsibility clearly allocated? And does the policy translate into practice. Vehicles should be managed in line with HSG65 just like any other Hazard.

What is in place for specific risk factor management, such as drugs, alcohol, illness/disability and fatigue? If there are policies on these, do they work in practice or are they honoured in the breach as much as the observance?

What is the safety culture like, are employees consulted on safety? Basic stuff, but important in vehicle management when budgets translate into time pressure, and breaks etc get forgotten or drastically curtailed.

These ideas derive in part from my own & others' experience in writing and drawing up policy on vehicle risk assessment and management; they also come from the recent MORR work which has been done for us by RoSPA; they have guidance on their site about vehicle fleet management which will be worth referring to.

Big subject,

John