Do you or your employees need to improve skills and knowledge of trailer towing?
Even though the law has changed, employers still have a Duty of Care under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), which states that regardless of the type or size of the business, employers must take appropriate steps to ensure:
- the health and safety of employees and others who may be affected by their activities, including pedestrians, when at work
- that employees’ work-related journeys are safe
- that employees are able to drive safely and all vehicles are fit for use
- that above conditions must be met including the time when employees are driving in a company car, a hired vehicle or the employee’s own vehicle.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state that employers are required to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, appoint competent people and arrange for appropriate information and training.
In practice we often find companies believe that:
- if their staff members hold a UK issued driving licence, they have the necessary skills to conduct themselves safely on the road whilst travelling to and from work and when carrying out company duties. This includes trailer towing entitlement holders. In reality a number of drivers may have very limited to none experience towing a trailer even though their driving licence allows them to do that legally.
- their responsibilities are only to their employees and do not extend the Duty of Care to contractors, volunteers or the self-employed who assist them in their business/operation related activities.
- their responsibility does not extend to include the vehicles owned by their staff members that they use for work duties, to drive to and back from appointments.
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