New Website Launched for Road Safety of Drivers
For the drivers of Europe, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has come up with a website to spread the knowledge oh health and safety measures to be taken to be safe.
The launch of this website coincides with UN’s Decade of Action on Road Safety 2011-2020 and it has uploaded a number of reports and resources to meet challenges in health and safety management in the sector of road transport.
It has been estimated that in the year 2009, more than a thousand drivers died in road accidents, 60% being lorry drivers. The agency says bicycle couriers, chauffeurs, bus drivers and van drivers are more prone to die in accidents or suffer from injuries. Apart from the injuries that occur due to accidents, these drivers also, face injuries due to slips and falls, theft, violence and while handling loads.
But the agency thinks that making the drivers aware of the risks associated with their profession will be challenging. The reason is that most of the drivers work alone and the firms employing drivers are very few – the size of the firm is very small, with employees of maximum 10. Most of the drivers work independently.
A range of resources has been provided on the new site, which covers issues and risks drivers face. Practical examples have also been included (from Europe and other parts). In addition to that, campaigns, which were fruitful in improving the health and safety awareness of drivers in the road transport sector. Resource materials were also available on problems faced by delivery drivers, road haulage drivers and taxi drivers along with drivers in passenger vehicle.
The range of accredited courses by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures for all kinds of workplace situations. The managing safely courses are for managers and supervisors in any sector and any organisation; designed to give managers all they need to know to help handle health and safety in their teams.