Workplace transport means any vehicle or piece of mobile equipment that is used by employers, employees, self-employed people or visitors in any work setting (apart from traveling on public roads).
It covers a wide range of vehicles, from cars, vans, lorries and lift trucks.
Why focus on Workplace Transport?
Every year approximately 50 people are killed in workplace transport related accidents. In addition there are more than 1500 major injuries (i.e. accidents which result in: broken bones, amputations etc) and around 3500 injuries that cause people to be off for more than three days.
Alongside the personal distress caused by an accident a relatively minor accident (for example one which results in an employee being off work for only a few days) is likely to cost around £3000 and a major accident around £16000.
What the law says?
Regulation 3 of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers and self-employed people to assess the risks to workers and anyone else, for example members of the public, who may be affected by the work activities being undertaken.
There are also a number of other specific legal duties that are applicable to workplace transport, however, the principle legal duty placed upon employers is, so far as is reasonably practicable, to provide and maintain safe systems of work, and to take all reasonably practicable precautions to ensure the health and safety of all workers in the workplace and members of the public who might be affected by their activities.
Self-employed people have a similar duty to that of employers - basically minimise the risks to their own and other peoples health and safety.
To assess the risks associated with your business download our checklist (PDF , 10KB). Additional information is available in the HSE booklet, Workplace Transport Safety - An Overview (PDF , 266KB)
If you require further information on the specific legislation that relates to certain workplace transport, for example forklift trucks etc, please contact the Safety & Environment Team on 01775 761161.
