SILVER LINING :
NEVER WASTE A CRISIS
WORDS BY JEROME CARSLAKE
As 2020 came to an end , I thought ‘ thank God the year of COVID is over , I can ’ t wait for 2021 ’. Here we are 12 months later and 2020 doesn ’ t seem so bad anymore .
The past two years have been brutal on everyone : constant change , uncertainty , disruption and that lingering languishing feeling . Even when a degree of normalcy beckoned , with events like the AfMA conference , Truck Show and Bulk Tanker Conference , hope was quickly taken away .
What was normal is now a memory known as ‘ pre-Covid ’. As we move into 2022 and ‘ post- Covid ’ ( or more accurately ‘ living with COVID ’), there is an opportunity to shape what our new world is going to be like .
Chances are budgets will be tighter , demand on travel different as working from home and virtual meetings remain , and the in-person coffee or dinner is more of a treat than the norm . So , why not use the next few months to build a solid foundation for the type of workplace road safety culture you want ?
Create positive habits that benefit you
Creating the ‘ right ’ habits can be hard work if you make it , but it doesn ’ t have to be .
When it comes to workplace road safety , there are others who can assist . For example , you can draw on the National Road Safety Partnership Program ’ s extensive resources , such as
Tool Box Talks , Organisational campaigns and videos ;
AfMA has eLearning vehicle safety course and resources ; and your insurer should be able to provide data to inform your strategy . If your insurer isn ’ t forthcoming on road and driver safety , time to find one that is .
It ’ s a journey and a safe investment
As with creating any new habit , it takes time , perseverance and a plan to navigate the journey .
The first step is making the case , and that can be sharing crash data with managers and drivers to highlight why action is needed and where it can have the most impact . Illustrate what the data means , highlighting both the dollar and time cost to the business and the personal cost to your people .
8 ISSUE 32 OCTOBER 2021 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU