Best Practices in Developing/Implementing Driver Safety Programs

[Sarah Webster]

Hi

I'm working on a class assignment for school (Ryerson University - OHS Certificate - Topics in OHS).

I'm researching what the best practices are in terms of developing and implementing a driver safety program and I was wondering if you could assist me with my research?

a) What resources have you used to develop your driver safety program?

b) What are the key components of your driver safety program?

c) What component of your driver safety program is the most successful? least succesful?

d) As a result of your driving safety program, did your driving related accidents/incidents decrease?

e) Please identify, if I'm able to follow-up with you and interview you (personally) via phone or in person over the next few weeks. I'm supposed to contact a couple of people. If so please forward me your contact information directly (via private message).

Feel free to answer any of the questions via private message, if you prefer.

Thank you very much for your assistance in advance.

Have a great day.

Sarah

[EGordon]

Hi Sarah,

The best bet would be to implement an Accident Review Committee to review your driver-related incidents on a monthly basis.

Take some of your best choices from management and workers and form a panel of five to review the incidents. The incidents should be done in summary form, general, no names, etc. so that the committee can review and make a ruling on if the incident was preventable or not based on the facts and without any bias. Once the committee convenes, the information is passed off to management or senior management as a recommendation, to which they can move on to disciplinary or adminstrative action.

The committee should not have these discussed at JHSC meetings unless they involve a work-related injury as well (we cover all in one of our committees but are moving forward with an Accident Review Committee).

When I worked at Ryder Canada, the panel was composed of two driver trainers from the Health and Safety department, and varied on a rotating basis various managers and drivers alike.

There was also a Driver Mentor Program for Senior Drivers to shadow and observe newer drivers.

Safe Driving Awards or related incentives also work well.

For each vehicle, there should be in addition to the standard items (log book, etc) a disposable camera, ruler tape, crayon/pencil and collision/incident form or report. This way, each time there is an incident, it is documented as best as possible.

Should you wish to go the route of Third Party, I would suggest the Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario (THSAO) or Council of Driver Trainers.

I hope this helps and good luck with your studies.

[Sarah Webster]

Hi EGordon

I like your suggestion of Accident Review Committee.

I'm assuming that there were alot of accidents to have the need of Accident Review Committee to meet monthly. Over time, did the number of accidents reduce with this approach?

Cheers,
Sarah

[EGordon]

Hi Sarah,

In past experience with a National Trucking Company, it was the nature of the industry to review accidents on a monthly basis for preventability and corrective action.

With the Town of Ajax, I am working on implementing the same in order to be proactive but am awaiting information from a friend who is a Driver Trainer to implement the process properly and to ensure its full effectiveness.

Accidents do get reduced over time, this can be done through acknowledging successes as much as seeing a trend and implementing the right measures to correct it. Good drivers and those that like their job greatly plow the way to success, however the opposite can be said for the few bad ones in every bunch that could be venemous or set bad habits in the workplace.

Corrective action has to come into play as does disciplinary action (verbal, written, suspension, termination). At my past company (Ryder) there was a monetary amount that led to termination in a preventable collision. This is a flawed sense of logic, as a minor incident could be equally serious as opposed to the loss of equipment and materials or products being hauled.

Depending on what you're looking for, there is always a need, as the same with reviewing workplace incidents with a JHSC.

Hope this helps.