EMPLOYERS must play their part in reducing road deaths.
That was the message from the Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan as he opened a road risk seminar recently.
Statistics show that up to a third of all road traffic collisions may involve somebody who is driving as part of their work at the time and Minister Durkan believes employers are in a unique position to make a significant contribution to reducing the levels of those killed and seriously injured on Northern Ireland’s roads.
Addressing attendees at the Managing Occupational Road Risk seminar he said:
“A good strong driving at work policy will show that you as employers take your employee’s safety seriously not only when they are on work premises but also when they are driving as part of their work.
“There are also implications for employers. If one of your employees is killed while driving at work and there is evidence of serious management failures, then you risk being prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act.”
Employers already have a duty under health and safety law for on-the-road work activities. This duty not only relates to employees who drive company vehicles but also extends to employees who drive their own vehicle to make work related journeys.
Mark H Durkan concluded: “Reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads is everyone’s responsibility. By encouraging road safety awareness in the workplace, this can bring us closer to our ambition of zero road deaths.”