Fleets have a legal obligation to ensure they’re compliant with the Government’s recovery strategy guidance – including measures for drivers.
The warning has come from Steve Pinchen, sales director, Licence Bureau, who said: “Implementation and adherence to new compliance measures is an absolute must for all fleet operators and business drivers.”
As part of the Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has issued new health and safety at work guidance. Last updated on 19 May 2020, the guidance includes specific advice on Working safely during coronavirus (Covid-19) – Vehicles, which covers people who work in or from vehicles, including couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles, field forces and similar.
Already, software firm FleetCheck has said that coronavirus measures should be added to standard fleet risk management policies, with the new government advice for professional drivers providing an initial source of information.
Licence Bureau has also warned that fleets need to take action.
Steve Pinchen explained: “Covid-19 Secure is a new compliance measure that all businesses now need to adhere to, and that includes those who drive for business.
“We are reinforcing the governments very clear guidance on the subject and that is that everyone needs to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19. As an employer, you also have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to their health and safety.”
The document sets out eight areas of focus for businesses and individuals to consider in order to assess risk and take preventative measures. It encourages businesses to share the results of any risk assessment with their workforce with an expectation that those with over 50 employees would publish on their website.
“Remember for the foreseeable future, workers should continue to work from home rather than their normal physical workplace, wherever possible. But with some sectors of the economy, for example construction, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution reopening for business this is the ‘new norm’,” said Pinchen.
“There will be those fleets with strong health and safety cultures and practices already in place that will adapt seamlessly, whilst inevitably others will be challenged by the additional measures.
“Regardless, being COVID-19 Secure is a must and working alongside businesses, we need to help lead that change.”
