FLEET SAFETY
“When you implement a culture of safety
first, you also become better positioned
when it comes to your insurance profile. ”
communicated in such a way that every employee understands
that you operate a “safety-first” organization. Here are some of
the elements you need to include in building this type of company
culture:
MANAGEMENT BUY-IN
A true commitment to safety must start at the top with
designated professionals devoted to safety issues. Ongoing safety
training should be a part of the company culture, and infractions
must be systematically recorded and consistently managed. All
drivers should be subject to regular performance evaluations.
Incentives for safe driving milestones can also be great motivators.
STRICT HIRING PRACTICES
Be sure you know who is driving your vehicles — whether
company-owned, third-party, or independent vehicles.
Drivers should be subject to a number of screening
processes, including a review of employment history,
identification and background checks, driving record
review, and drug and alcohol testing. Periodic drug testing
should be continued as a condition of employment.
WRITTEN GUIDELINES
Expectations for drivers should be laid out in writing, including
rules regarding driving hours, cell phone usage, off-duty
access, seat belt usage, driving impairment, and accident
and incident reporting. Drivers should also be informed of
particular conduct and courtesy standards for your company.
COMPREHENSIVE DRIVER TRAINING
Driver training programs should be required for every new hire,
helping to orient them to the requirements and standards of
your organization. Topics covered may include defensive driving,
dangers of distracted driving, vehicle emergency protocols,
avoiding aggressive driving, and basic vehicle maintenance.
Ongoing training should be conducted for teaching new
protocols and introducing new safety features and equipment.
HIGH MAINTENANCE STANDARDS
Your company should have the bandwidth to conduct routine
maintenance regularly and pull vehicles out of service if they
a re in need of repairs. Drivers should be equipped with the
training and tools to check for common problems and report
them accurately to the correct personnel for prompt attention.
SAFE VEHICLES
Don’t overlook the importance of acquiring safe vehicles to begin
with, taking into consideration their crash ratings, industry
reviews, and maintenance histories. As you evaluate various
vehicles and safety options, a cost/benefit analysis should present
a clearer picture of which investments are worthwhile from
various perspectives, including cost, safety, and insurance.
THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS
Your company should have systematic procedures for tracking
accidents and other safety infractions and addressing situations
appropriately either through remedial driver training or
disciplinary action. If weather, distracted driving, excessive speed,
or other factors contributed to an accident, these factors should
be recorded for later analysis and potential rules modification.
SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Up-to-date software and tools should be used to ensure that
your maintenance records, driver logs, personnel records, and
insurance information are easily accessible by the necessary
employees so that the effects on productivity are minimized in
the event of an accident or other claim. Technology should be
used wherever possible to expedite processes and avoid downtime.
Be sure to take advantage of the resources at hand when
working to improve the safety culture at your organization.
Your insurance professional has a wealth of knowledge in
maximizing fleet safety and can refer you to the proper resources
to improve your safety profile. Together, you can work towards
a framework and timeline for implementing programs that
will improve productivity and help lower insurance costs. For
more information, contact me at [email protected]. +
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