BEWARE DANGERS OF STAFF DRIVING THEIR OWN CARS

[POSTMAN]

THIS IS BRISTOL

A Bristol company has warned that firms which let staff drive their own cars for work could face prosecution after accidents under new legislation.PES, an employment consultancy based in Stoke Gifford, said companies whose staff drove for work purposes should be aware of the new regulations.

They quoted national statistics which reveal there are 1,200 accidents a year in the Bristol region which result in death or serious injury.

About four per cent of casualties are people travelling for business reasons.

On April 6, the Corporate Mans-laughter and Homicide Act comes into force and means organisations can face prosecution for failings in health and safety.

Instead of individual managers being blamed, the whole business will be held responsible.

Although fleet managers might keep a record of the company cars being driven, PES said, the emphasis would be on the company to also review personal cars used for business purposes.

Olivia Van Der Werff, who runs the health and safety department of PES, said: "The change in law means companies can now face prosecution for manslaughter for the first time, rather than just ind-ividuals.

"Companies need to review their safety management systems and ensure they have strong policies for assessing safety throughout.

"Cars, however, are an area that can easily be overlooked.

"It's important to realise that companies are responsible for the condition of even the employees' own vehicles.

"The company must ensure all vehicles are generally roadworthy, plus insured, taxed and serviced.

"For example, 77 per cent of cars in the South West are over three years old and therefore require an MOT certificate.

"Managers should act now to put safety management systems in place, briefing staff well before the April implementation to make responsibilities clear, and give time to ensure the required checks can be undertaken on any cars used for work."

[brothermagrew]

THIS IS BRISTOL

A Bristol company has warned that firms which let staff drive their own cars for work could face prosecution after accidents under new legislation.PES, an employment consultancy based in Stoke Gifford, said companies whose staff drove for work purposes should be aware of the new regulations.

They quoted national statistics which reveal there are 1,200 accidents a year in the Bristol region which result in death or serious injury.

About four per cent of casualties are people travelling for business reasons.

On April 6, the Corporate Mans-laughter and Homicide Act comes into force and means organisations can face prosecution for failings in health and safety.

Instead of individual managers being blamed, the whole business will be held responsible.

Although fleet managers might keep a record of the company cars being driven, PES said, the emphasis would be on the company to also review personal cars used for business purposes.

Olivia Van Der Werff, who runs the health and safety department of PES, said: "The change in law means companies can now face prosecution for manslaughter for the first time, rather than just ind-ividuals.

"Companies need to review their safety management systems and ensure they have strong policies for assessing safety throughout.

"Cars, however, are an area that can easily be overlooked.

"It's important to realise that companies are responsible for the condition of even the employees' own vehicles.

"The company must ensure all vehicles are generally roadworthy, plus insured, taxed and serviced.

"For example, 77 per cent of cars in the South West are over three years old and therefore require an MOT certificate.

"Managers should act now to put safety management systems in place, briefing staff well before the April implementation to make responsibilities clear, and give time to ensure the required checks can be undertaken on any cars used for work."

Brother Postman
In so far that it is an offence under the law of England, Wales and Northern Ireland the relevant Act that you have quoted Corporate Manslaughter is applicable only to these three Countries. Scotland however slightly differs where the Act is known as Corporate Homicide in so far as it is an offence under the law of Scotland.

[combocrasher]

I hope it will spur Royal mail into banning cars on delivery

[Fluke]

I hope it will spur Royal mail into banning cars on delivery

[TrueBlueTerrier]

"It's important to realise that companies are responsible for the condition of even the employees' own vehicles.

"The company must ensure all vehicles are generally roadworthy, plus insured, taxed and serviced.

So now will Royal Mail require Car users not only to show Tax and MOT certificates, but also Servicing History and will Managers have to check the condition of the vehicles. Guess they will be installing vehicle servicing ramps in most units if they allow private car use to continue beyond April.

"Managers should act now to put safety management systems in place, briefing staff well before the April implementation to make responsibilities clear, and give time to ensure the required checks can be undertaken on any cars used for work."

Can anyone guess what this weeks WTLL is going to be about

[janitor]

You are kidding ! managers don't even check the condition and road worthiness of RM vehicle let alone private cars, was once told to take out a vehicle with 5 bald tires you guess what my answer to that was.

[bandit650]

Managers are supposed to do OMV checks all through the week,every OMV that belongs to the delivery office or the network and collections area should have checks done, all OMV'S have a check list to go through the entire fleet should be gone through every week,this is also to make sure duty checks and weekly checks are being done and that the condition of the fleet are being kept up this also includes tax disc checks and making sure that OMV'S have not got any accident damage which could be dangerous.
The problem with this is most managers dont do the checks claiming they dont have time or they dont know what they are suppose to be checking or looking at so it gets pushed to the wayside no checks done,this problem is found more so in delivery units.
The list contains checks on
Lights,tyres,fluid checks,whether the OMV is clear and clean inside,number plate/lights are clean,Tax Disc is in date,oil levels,check that all indicators are working,stop lights are working,general condition of OMV,they are also looking to see that there is no mail or packets left in OMVand so on.

[DGP1]

In a modern engines all that can be checked by us non mechanics are oil levels and the washer bottle everything else under the bonnet must be checked by qualified mechanics but because modern engines are so reliable now you really don't need to check them beyond the service intervals. All exterior items ie tyres, glass, bodywork and lights should be checked before you drive the vehicle but I'm always alone in checking them in my DO.

[not me]

its mad that RM allow customers mail to be transported in private cars.
sort of thing you would expect of some tiny courier company

[somerset]

We all know the union is totally against people using there cars and come April 6th i think management will also be against it. We have read on here several instances where there has been an accident and i don't think RM want to have a big fine against them instead of an indivudial person?

[jemima]

RM announced last December that they were going to stop people using their own cars, but that it would take a few years to stop everyone.

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/forum/vi ... highlight=