Top tips for keeping your vans and drivers safe

7th November 2013

Five year’s on from the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter & Corporate Homicide Act, Axa Business Insurance warns that many firms with company vans are not following the basic steps to protect themselves against potential prosecution.

Nearly half (45%) of the van operators polled by Axa appear to be totally unaware of the term ‘corporate manslaughter’, for example.

As well as a general lack of awareness, the research highlighted three main areas of concern in the way businesses manage their vans:

• Poor admin in relation to the paperwork for drivers and vehicles.
• Unchecked damage to van bodywork and windscreens.
• A casual attitude to core maintenance required to keep vehicles safe.

“Corporate Manslaughter is a serious charge and carries an unlimited fine,” Darrell Sansom of AXA Business Insurance said.  “We want to warn businesses that keeping on top of relevant HSE legislation is vital to avoid leaving themselves exposed.”

• Check the paperwork of all drivers who are using a company vehicle – including their insurance and licence – and if you have any concerns investigate thoroughly.
• If your staff use their own vehicles for company business, check that they have the legal paperwork to do so.  This will mean having business insurance cover on their motor insurance.
• If a member of staff has any health issues, ensure you check that these are compatible with continued safe driving.
• Make sure there is a thorough process in place and someone responsible for servicing vehicles and keeping MOTs up to date.
• When one of your vehicles is damaged or involved in a bump, take it to be checked (and repaired) straight away.  Sometimes ‘invisible’ damage can lead to the vehicle being dangerous to drive – eg, a bent chassis.
• Ensure regular checks are made of tyre pressure/tread, oil and water and other key areas of maintenance.  Make it clear who is responsible for this and check that it is being done
• When the weather gets bad, make sure your vans are winter-proofed with sufficient anti-freeze, screen wash and, if necessary, winter tyres.  Also, allow your drivers more time to get between jobs.
• Even when the weather is not bad, look at schedules that allow your drivers to travel safely between jobs rather than having to rush to keep to unrealistic timescales.
• If your vans are carrying heavy loads, be aware that the handling of the van can be altered and that any goods being transported must, under law, be securely stowed.

“As an insurer,” Darrell added, “we all too often see the results of people failing to comply with regulations designed to keep road users safe.  And while often there is no intent to break the rules, complacency can carry a heavy price tag.”

The Highway Code recommends that core maintenance, such as checking tyre pressure and fluid levels, is done on a weekly basis.