Programs fleet safety

A fleet safety program should consist ofthe following  

Operator training requirements. Operator performance requirements. 

Fleet safety is often viewed as operator safety, which is definitely a key component of a company s attanpt to protect its large investment in vehicles and mobile equipment. It is understood that many of the accidents that occur are a direct result of driver error. However, driver error is not the fault of the individual. It is the fault of mauaganeut s failure to institute a fleet safety program that provides organization, direction, and accountability for the fleet of vehicles that the company owns. 

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT A PRACTICAL APPROACH 

Is worker wearing all required personal protective equipment Comments  

Steps In performing the job or task should be marked (S) Satisfactory, (R) Reobserve, or (U) Unsatisfactory. 

Did the worker perform the job according to the safety operating procedure Comments  

Commitment to a fleet safety program communicates the value that the company places on their property and employees. The care given to both vehicles/equipment and employees conveys the company s true view of the value of accident prevention. 

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It provides a means for monitoring the effectiveness of fleet safety programs. 

Description The great majority of preventable accidents can be shown to be directly related to the performance of the driver. It is therefore extremely productive to any fleet safety program to have careful new driver selection and adequate monitoring procedures for existing drivers. 

Objective To improve safe driving performance with an effective fleet safety program. 

Description Fleet safe driving performance is dependent on management commitment to the implementation of a formal fleet safety program. An effective safety program will interact with most aspects of fleet operations and challenge the skills and knowledge of its supervisors and drivers. 

Does your fleet safety program provide the framework for safety management to ... 

Does the manual describe the fleet safety program ... 

Fleet safety may be viewed as vehicle safety or mechanical safety, but this type of safety depends on both maintenance and operators. An operator s job must include pre-operation inspections and, upon completing his or her use of the vehicle, the reporting of any defects. This should be normal operating procedure for any preventive maintenance program. Nevertheless, what you can expect depends on the quality of your operators. Operators are the center of your fleet safety program. 

Thus, in a fleet safety program, it is important to select the best operators for the job. The operator is vital to the prevention of accidents, incidents, vehicle damage. 

Operators shonld be observed and evalnated on a periodic basis, retrained if necessary, and supervised more closely. If you are sure that your vehicles are in proper and safe operating condition, yonr operators then become the key to your fleet safety program. Good, conscientious operators can prevent accidents from occurring they are the focus of your fleet safety program. 

The manual should describe the fleet safety program. It should set out the carrier s standards for safe driving. Procedures for reviewing and classifying accidents, established by the company, should be included. It should also explain the company s disciplinary procedures. 

PMPs are another example of an accident prevention technique. Of course, this technique would apply only if your company has equipment, machinery, or vehicles. A PMP is also an integral part of a fleet safety program. 

Management experiences large numbers of repairs to the vehicles in its fleet. This should be viewed as an indication of inadequate maintenance and inspection procedures, and an indication of potential unsafe vehicles, which could facilitate or cause accidents. The scheduling of periodic inspections and maintenance activities should be part of management s fleet safety program. Management should maintain a record on each vehicle regarding repairs, inspections, and maintenance. 

National Safety Council. (2010). Fleet Safety Program Guide. National Safety Council, Chicago, IL. 

Thus, in a fleet safety program, it is important to select the best operators for the job. The operator is vital to the prevention of accidents, incidents, vehicle damage, and injuries. Careful selection of the operator is paramount to an effective fleet safety program. The selection process should involve access to the operator s past employment history, driving record (including accidents), accommodations, or awards, as well as previous experience, if any, on your type of equipment. 

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