General Driving Safety
Millions of workers drive or ride in
a vehicle to or as part of their jobs, and crashes are the leading cause of
work-related deaths in the United States. Motor vehicle crashes impact workers,
their families, businesses, and communities, and employers often bear the costs
for crash-related injuries that occur both on and off the job. To minimize the
risk of injuries, employers can promote safe driving practices and encourage
employees to follow these practices.
How
Can Employers Promote Safe Driving Practices?
Employers
can promote safe driving practices by:
Ensuring work
materials are secured for transport. Tools
or equipment should be secured while being transported to prevent unsafe
movement of materials. During a crash or when making sudden maneuvers, loose
objects can slide around or become airborne, injuring the employee driver and
any passengers. Objects that could become a hazard should be secured or stored by
employees outside the passenger compartment.
Encouraging
employee seat belt use. According to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA), seat belts are the single most
effective means of reducing deaths and serious injuries in traffic crashes. During
a crash, anyone not wearing a seat belt will slam into the steering wheel,
windshield, or other parts of the interior, or be ejected from the vehicle.
Employers may make wearing a seat belt while performing work-related tasks
mandatory, and may set forth such a mandatory rule in general employee
handbooks and employee safety handbooks.
Encouraging
employees to avoid distracted driving. Distracted driving is any activity by a driver that
diverts attention from driving. These activities include talking or texting on
a phone, eating, drinking, talking to people in the vehicle, and adjusting
stereo or navigation system controls.