Driving is an inherently dangerous work activity. In 1999, Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) recorded that motor vehicle incidents on public roads accounted for 20% of work-related deaths that year. In 2004, the number spiked to 43%, but the latest WSIB reports show a decline in 2005 to 23% of workplace fatalities. Yet, motor vehicle incidents remain the leading cause of work-related deaths, and the threat is a global one with the US and the UK reporting similar statistics.

Little wonder. Think of the number of employees using personal vehicles or transportation provided by employers for business-related travel and then factor in all the people who commute to and from work by car.

Since driving is an occupational safety issue for anyone who does so while on the job, employers should approach it in the same way they would any other occupational health and safety risks – assess the contributing factors and manage them.

A motor vehicle accident can be caused by mechanical and/or human error. An effective safe driving policy must take into account what causes motor vehicle incidents, whether they stem from poorly maintained vehicles or drowsy, distracted, and/or aggressive drivers.

Managing risk

Start by making sure all vehicles are properly maintained and serviced on a regular basis. Human factors influencing vehicle accidents are less predictable. To manage these risks, employers can:

• Restrict the number of hours driven in a day, with adequate time set aside for rest breaks.
• Avoid having employees drive in adverse weather conditions and at night.
• Allow employees enough time to travel for work, taking into account weather, road conditions, and speed limits.
• Prohibit use of cell phones or wireless internet and e-mail systems while driving.
• Have clear policies on alcohol and drug use.
• Provide mandatory defensive driving courses to educate employees about traffic laws and appropriate driving behaviour while they enhance their driving skills.

While one person may drive responsibly, there are others who are not as diligent. To mitigate this risk factor, decrease the amount of unnecessary driving by encouraging employees to take alternate modes of transportation, such as a bus, subway, or train. This also reduces the number of vehicles on the road and creates a safer driving environment.

We no longer define a workplace as four walls, a floor, and a ceiling–or an address. Wherever people work is the workplace, and that includes vehicles. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that an employee’s workplace is safe, even if it is on wheels.

Maureen Shaw is President and CEO of IAPA. This article appeared in Plant, Canada’s industry newspaper, on October 16, 2006.