Up to a third of all road traffic crashes and collisions involve somebody who is at work at the time. This may account for over 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week, and 77,000 injuries to employees every year in the UK. "For the majority of people, the most dangerous thing they do at work is drive on the public highway" – Health & Safety Executive.

Some employers believe, incorrectly, that provided they comply with certain road traffic law requirements, for example vehicles have a valid MOT and that drivers hold a valid licence, this is enough to ensure the safety of their employees when they are on the road. However, health and safety law applies to on-the-road work activities as to all work activities, and the risks should be effectively managed within a health and safety management system. All organisations, large or small, private or public, are being expected to develop a systematic approach to managing Occuptional Roard Risk.

To be successful, this approach will need to be underpinned by a proactive, positive road safety culture led by all senior managers, with full workforce consultation and participation. Adopting such an approach will not only help to meet road casualty reduction targets, but it makes real economic sense as road crashes cost time and money in terms of absent staff, lost output and damage to reputation. Costs

• Management time
• Management training
• Risk assessment
• Driver assessment
• Driver training
• Accident/incident investigation
• Data collection/analysis
• Control measures Benefits
• Reduced repair costs
• Less lost staff time due to injury
• Less need for investigation and paperwork
• Improved staff morale
• Better public image
• Lower insurance premiums
• Improved 'off the job' road safety
• Improved safety culture
• More effective vehicle use

The Health & Safety Executive, in partnership with the Department for Transport, has published free guidance on work-related road safety aimed at any employer, manager or supervisor with staff who drive or ride a motorcycle or bicycle at work. "Driving at work: Managing work-related road safety" alerts employers and the self-employed to the fact that their responsibilities under current health and safety law extend to driving at work. It contains generic advice on managing work-related road safety effectively and on integrating it into existing health and safety arrangements.

Copies of the guidance can be downloaded free from the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdf

More information on Managing Occupational Road Risk can be found at http://www.morr.org.uk/