A Presentation for Safety Committees, Employers, Supervisors and

Workers Who Drive

Presentation Overview

• Driving is a workplace safety issue• Workers who drive are at significant risk• Your responsibilities • Strategies to reduce the risks of winter driving for

fleet and “grey fleet” drivers• Shift Into Winter campaign • Resources• Questions

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Work and winter driving can be hazardous

• Motor-vehicle incidents (MVIs) are a leading cause of work-related deaths in B.C.

• Vehicle collisions in B.C. double between October and December

• Winter conditions (including rain) can be challenging even for experienced commercial and occupational drivers

• Employers, supervisors, workers and safety committees can take steps to reduce the risks

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Everyone is responsible for safety

• Motor vehicles are workplaces• Make sure you know your health and safety

responsibilities:- Employers: establish, deliver and maintain an OHS program that

addresses driving risks - Supervisors: instruct drivers in safe work procedures- Drivers: be safe on the roads; follow all laws and

workplace safety rules; report unsafe conditions

• Committees: identify and address driving and winter driving issues in your workplace

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Manage the risks

• Employers, supervisors, drivers and safety committees: consider ways in which to eliminate / reduce / manage road risk

• Is the risk worth it? Determine if winter driving is absolutely necessary

• Explore business alternatives (phone, email,tele/video-conferencing,public transportation)

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Employers: manage the risks

• Develop control measures: - where possible, eliminate / reduce travel by car - plan safer trips (consider the weather, time of day and reducing distances for longer trips) - ensure vehicles are maintained and equipped with necessary safety equipment - train drivers, develop winter specific driving policies

• Develop safety measures for your “grey fleet”

• Provide a supportive work environment that promotes safe driving behaviours

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If you or your staff must drive . . .

Always check weather / travel conditions before you drive:• DriveBC• Environment Canada• Online and broadcast media sources

If you have to drive, drive smart: • Prepare yourself / your staff• Prepare your vehicle / your fleet vehicles• Drive for conditions

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Drivers: prepare yourself for winter driving

• Learn winter driving skills• Develop a positive driving

attitude• Check weather conditions• Plan your route ahead of time• Anticipate delays• Driving is a complex task: be focused on the road• Follow working-alone procedures where applicable• Slow down!

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Prepare your vehicle*/company vehicles• Vehicles should be tuned up before winter• Install four matched winter tires (look

for the mountain and snowflake logo)• Carry chains if you do not have winter tires• Install new winter wiper blades• Clear frost from all windows and snow / ice from all

vehicle surfaces before your trip• Carry a cell phone (and charging cable)• Pack a winter survival kit

*If you drive a personal car for work

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Drive for the conditions

• Slow down: drop speed to match conditions• Maintain a safe following distance (the 4-second rule)• Watch for / anticipate

black ice (+4°C to -4°C)• Accelerate and brake slowly• Know how to handle a skid• Don’t use cruise control• Be visible: always drive

with your headlights on.

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Winter Driving Safety Alliance

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Shift into Winter campaign

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Shift into Winter campaign

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Shift into Winter: tip sheets

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Tip sheets

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Checklist

For more information

ShiftIntoWinter.caShiftIntoWinter.ca DriveBC.caDriveBC.ca

Review

• Manage road risk in your workplace• Vehicle collisions increase during winter• Avoid /postpone driving in poor weather conditions• Take changing conditions into account when

planning a work trip • Prepare your vehicle (or fleet) • Prepare yourself (or your drivers)• Slow down and drive for the conditions • Shift into Winter!

For more information

www.shiftintowinter.ca

www.worksafebc.com

www.drivebc.ca

www.workerroadsafety.com

www.weatheroffice.gc.ca

www.icbc.com

www.tc.gc.ca

http://www.tsf-bcaa.com/

Questions?Questions?

The Occupational Road Safety Partnership

The Occupational Road Safety Partnership was formed in 2009 by WorkSafeBC and the BCAA Road Safety Foundation.

The mission of the partnership is to:• Create awareness about the significant risks associated with work-

related driving. • Engage stakeholders to take action. • Assist B.C. employers to improve work-related driving safety.

For more information visit www.workerroadsafety.com (January 2012)