Home | News | News story

Driving for Business

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 which comes into force on 6 April 2008 highlights the need for companies to examine their health and safety policies with regard to employees driving for business purposes.  The Act will mean that companies, and other organisations, could face prosecution where there has been a gross failing in the management of health and safety with fatal consequences.

 

Whilst employers providing company cars generally ensure that the vehicles are insured, serviced and maintained adequately, the same cannot be said for those whose employees use their own cars for business journeys.

 

The new Act means that following a fatal road accident involving an at-work driver, investigations will be made into the way the employer monitors, audits and reviews its policies and procedures in respect of vehicles, drivers and journeys.

 

Employers should therefore be ensuring that recommended service intervals are being met, MOTs are being carried out in a timely fashion, accidents are being reported and basic maintenance checks are being carried out, as well as checking insurance documents and driving licences.

 

Further compliance information can be found in the Health and Safety Executive’s ‘Driving at Work: Managing Work-related Road Safety’ document, available at hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdf