I hope you are well. Welcome to our latest edition of our Health and Safety bulletin In this edition we concentrate on road risk
Recently we have had serious road traffic accidents while our frontline workers were driving home from work shifts These accidents are under investigation to establish the immediate cause so we cannot make specific comments, but it is important that we learn lessons from our investigations to try and prevent accidents like this happening again.
As I am sure you are aware, driving on our roads is dangerous, and driving back to your place of rest after work is a time of great risk
We are naturally more tired driving after a work shift than we were driving before it, and it is often when we are naturally tired in the early hours of the morning.
It is important that if we feel drowsy that we stop at the earliest, safe opportunity in a place of safety and take a break and get out of the vehicle. Only start driving again when you are feeling more alert, refreshed, and fit to drive.
Every year thousands of people are killed in road traffic accidents, and thousands more suffer serious, life-changing injuries The roads are a dangerous place, so we really need to concentrate all the time
Our top safe driving tips are;
Keep your distance
Adjust your driving according to road and weather conditions
Don’t drive distracted or sleepy. Do not use your mobile phone, even hands-free.
Thank you
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HSQEDirector GarethMorris,Morson International-Manchester
GarethMorris@morsoncom 07736657039
HSEAdviserandSafetyUnit (North)
JaneHepburn–Manchester, Solutions,MiltonKeynes(North) Doncaster,MarketRasenand Birmingham
JaneHepburn@vitalukcom 07717306797
HSEAdviserandSafetyUnit KeithWright KeithWright@vitalukcom 07717306775
HSEAdviserandSafetyUnit (South)
AlexWilson-Cardiff,Farnham, MiltonKeynes(South)and CanningTown
AlexWilson@vitalukcom 07717306811
How would you improve safety?
What are your ideas for innovation?
What would you change?
To be in with the chance to with £100 worth of gift vouchers, email us your ideas at:
MYIDEA@VITALUKCOM
What do we mean by Work Safe, Home Safe?
We mean that we are fit and prepared for work At work we work safely with our colleagues and follow the rules We go home in a safe condition, free from harm
How do we go about it?
We follow 5 Brilliant Basics
Be fit and ready for work, physically and mentally
Always follow the rules – no short cuts
If unsure, Take Five, stop work and ask If anything is unsafe, Take Five, stop work and report Treat each day like Day 1, do not be complacent
What are we doing behind the scenes to make us successful at what we do?
We put people at the centre of what we do
We analyse mistakes very rigorously
We try to create an open atmosphere where everyone can speak up
We are willing to fix what is wrong if it is under our control
We relentlessly pursue new work and new opportunities
We never give in to complacency
The Training Scheme provides fantastic opportunities for individuals and prepares them for a future career in the rail sector Trainees learn the fundamental skills needed to work in the rail industry by undertaking work trackside, whilst developing academic skills in a classroom environment The trainees will carry out various range of jobs, including the changing sleepers, routine maintenance tasks, renewals tasks, basic electrics, overhead line & power distribution
Created in 2016, Andy's Man Club works to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives Achieving this through weekly peer-to-peer support groups for men over 18 across England, Scotland, Wales and online platforms
It was inspirational to hear about the huge success of the club so far and we hope, together, to be able to increase the club's awareness amongst our workforce and let people know, it’s okay to talk.
Driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people do, and it contributes to far more work-related accidental deaths and serious injuries than all other work activities.
Very few organisations can operate without using the road Millions of vehicles - lorries, vans, taxis, buses, emergency service vehicles, company cars, motorcycles, bicyclesare used for work purposes, and many people work on foot on the road (maintenance workers, refuse collectors, postal workers, vehicle breakdown employees, the police and so on).
Unfortunately, all these workers face and create risks for themselves and everyone else on the road because they are doing their jobs The HSE estimate that " more than a quarter of all road traffic incidents may involve somebody who is driving as part of their work at the time "
Police road accident data shows that every year over 500 people are killed (almost one third of all road deaths), 5,000 seriously injured and almost 40,000 slightly injured in collisions involving drivers or riders who are driving for work. This includes other road users, as well as at-work drivers and riders themselves In fact, most of those killed on work-related journeys are passengers, pedestrians and riders rather than the at-work drivers and riders
Whether you are driving your own vehicle, or a company vehicle, crashes can be caused by carelessness, dangerous driving and bad habits Yet many incidents can be avoided if you remain patient and aware of what's around you, as well as observing The Highway Code
We've highlighted below the most common causes of road accidents, including reckless driving, using your phone, and being drowsy at the wheel
Unfortunately, lots of drivers do ignore speed limit signs when rushing to their destination –putting themselves and others in danger And the faster you drive, the shorter reaction time you have to prevent an accident.
After decades of awareness campaigns, driving too fast for either the road or the driving conditions is still one of the the most common contributory factors in collisions. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) states that speeding killed almost 400 people in the UK in 2015. Wherever you ' re heading, it's always safer to stay within the speed limits.
Since 1 March 2017, holding and using a phone while driving could result in a £200 fine and 6 points added to your licence And for good reason – text driving is twice as likely to cause a crash as drink driving, due to a driver's reaction times
Driving while using a phone impairs your driving in many ways:
Distraction Driving and using your phone means doing two 'thinking' tasks, which our brains are not designed to do well.
Physical Using a phone means having only one hand to control the car.
Visual Even a quick glance at your phone takes your eyes off the road for a second or two – which could be the difference between a safe stop and an accident
Be sure to put your phone on silent or 'driving mode' when on the road. If it still distracts you, store it in the glove box If you need to use it, stop somewhere safe to do so
Although no specific law makes it illegal to eat and drive, doing so could present a significant danger. And despite the law, you can still be prosecuted for careless driving if not in proper control of the car.
Careful driving isn't just about managing your speed but also about being considerate to other road users Changing lanes too quickly and erratically on a motorway or dual carriageway can cause other drivers to brake suddenly, possibly resulting in a crash with a vehicle behind them.
Driving too closely to the vehicle in front of you, also known as tailgating, is also very dangerous If it suddenly brakes, there'll be little time for you to react and this could result in a serious crash.
The police can issue fixed penalty notices for tailgating, while careless driving offences could see you compelled to attend a driving course But if a case goes to court the maximum penalty is £5,000, 3 to 9 points on your licence, and a discretionary disqualification.
So always follow the two-second rule – keep a minimum of two seconds behind the vehicle in front in order to have a thinking and stopping distance
Of course, it's vital that you ' re always aware of the risks around you Look ahead for other vehicles and road users – cars, motorbikes or bicycles – and use your car mirrors too. A Department for Transport report released in 2012 showed that 42% of crashes reported to the police involved drivers failing to look properly.
Even getting out of the car can be dangerous, so check behind for an approaching vehicle or cyclist before opening your car door The Dutch Reach is being promoted as a safer way to exit a vehicle on the road side To do the Dutch Reach, simply use your hand furthest away from the door to open it – as you swivel look for any oncoming bicycles or traffic as well using the side mirror.
If you can't stay awake, then don't stay behind the wheel According to police incident records, fatigue is a factor in 2% of all crashes. However, some studies suggest that tiredness is a contributory factor in up to 20% of accidents
Driving when tired doesn't necessarily mean driving at night You may just be exhausted, have driven for too long, or you might driving at a time when you might normally be asleep, such as very early in the morning There are a few precautions you can take to avoid being a tired driver
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs dramatically reduce your ability to drive, and puts yourself and other road users in danger. So to avoid an accident just remember, if you ' re driving don't drink, and if you ' re drinking don't
Remember, at junctions, pedestrians have priority
The Highway Code Rule H2 (Pedestrians Crossing): Highlighting that at junctions, drivers should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross on a road into which they are turning.
Please remember the Network Rail’s Life Saving Rules relating to driving
The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency facts you should know about excessive sleepiness/tiredness and driving.
There is no excuse for falling asleep at the wheel and it is not an excuse in law.
Up to one fifth of accidents on motorways and other monotonous types of roads may be caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel
All drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have a degree of warning.
18 to 30 year old males are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel when driving late at night
Modern lifestyles such as early morning starts, shift work and late night socialising, often lead to excessive tiredness by preventing adequate rest
Natural sleepiness/tiredness occurs after eating a large meal.
Changes in body rhythm produce a natural increased tendency to sleep at two parts of the day: midnight to 6am and 2pm to 4pm
Prescribed or over-the-counter medication can cause sleepiness as a side effect. Always check the label, if you intend to drive
Winding down the window or turning the radio up aren’t effective at combatting tiredness If you find yourself doing these things, it’s a sign you are sleepy and need a break
At the first sign of tiredness, stop and take a break
Stop in a safe place – don’t stop on a motorway hard shoulder
Drink two cups of coffee or an equivalent caffeinated drink
Take a short nap of around 15-20 minutes
Over the recent months the Rail industry have reported an increase in manual handling accidents involving moving/lifting and positioning rail and sleepers Many of which have resulted in the injured person receiving significant injuries.
“ any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying, or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force.”
Some on the reported injuries have resulted in serious injuries to the individuals involved with deep lacerations and fractures being reported, with reconstruction surgery being required. We will advise further on these once the investigations have been completed and casual factors advised
VHRL are aware the accidents could have been avoided if the following had been considered:
Can the task be completed safely
Am I trained to complete the task requested
How will the task be completed
What are the correct process and procedures, have these been briefed,
Are the correct tools available to be use during the activity
Who will control the task – I e , on my count of 3 lift/lower
Who will be involved/How will this be briefed
Is the route of the lift/carry/move activity free from obstruction
Have I got the appropriate PPE – in 2 of the accident’s gloves prevented further injury
One operative involved in a recent accident advises he was concerned in the work activity being requested but got on with it because everyone else was and he did not want to be seen as the awkward one even though he felt the activity was being completed unsafely
Any worker can use the Work safe Procedure, you should never have to undertake any task if unsafe to do so This can be initiated by stopping the task, moving to a position of safety, and contacting the COSS/Person in Charge (PIC).
VHRL will support any worker who decides to cease work due to a valid safety concern
Any worker can also access the Confidential Incident Reporting & Analysis System (CIRAS), should they wish to report unsafe practices
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