Ways to eliminate hazard associated with the road safety department

Ways to eliminate hazard associated with the road safety department

Road safety is a very broad area of safety . While we have discussed various topics relating to road safety in our past articles, today we will be discussing the ways to eliminate or reduce the hazard associated with road safety. Most road safety hazards cannot be totally eliminated but can be reduced to have less effect on workers, vehicles or organization.

Below are ways or methods used in eliminating hazards associated with road safety.

1. Hierarchy of Controls

A hazard control system is an organized set of measures or methods applied to eliminate or minimize exposure to hazards. For work-related driving, it’s the steps that people in your organization take to prevent crashes. Such a system can include equipment and tools, work practices and safe work procedures, and safety meetings and training – all aimed at controlling driver exposure to hazards.

When it comes to deciding which measures to apply, there may be several options available. Check the methods below.

A. Elimination
This has to do with removing the hazard from the workplace. Eliminating a hazard is clearly the most effective and sustainable way of dealing with it. Whether the hazard is a faulty brakes system, an unacceptable driving practice or a distracting smart phone, once you eliminate it from the workplace, it cannot generate risk. The administrative or supervisory efforts attached to that hazard also become zero.

B. Substitution
This involves replacing a hazardous condition or process with one that has no associated hazards, or has hazards that pose lower risks. Replace worn out tires with new ones. Rather than using 15-passenger vans with inherent instability problems, proactive employers have switched to buses to transport employees. There are still hazards associated with transporting those workers, but substituting a more stable vehicle lowers the risk of injury due to a crash caused by vehicle instability.

C. Engineering controls
This does not directly eliminate the hazard. Instead, they reduce risks by separating or isolating the driver from exposure to the hazard. Examples include physical barriers between the driver and passenger compartments that protect taxi drivers from an attack by a passenger, divided highways that isolate motorists from the risk of colliding with oncoming vehicles, and vehicle safety features such as anti-lock braking systems, back-up cameras and lane departure warning systems.

D. Administrative controls
These are the policies, operating procedures, rules and practices that describe the way driving is done at your workplace. A policy that simply prohibits cell phone use while driving does not remove the source of the hazard – drivers will still carry their phone and possibly use it while driving. By adding a procedure that describes how and when a driver can use their smart phone (i.e., when safely parked), drivers get a clearer picture of what is required of them to avoid that hazard. An effective check-in procedure does not eliminate the risk that a driver will be stranded after running out of gas in an area with no cell phone coverage. However, it reduces the potential severity of the consequences – once they miss their check-in call, administrative measures are in place to ensure that help.

E. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
This is the least effective type of control. This is particularly true for driving because there aren’t any true PPE items for driving-related hazards. Seatbelts, airbags and other in-car safety features surely protect vehicle occupants, but they are engineering controls. Personal gear that can assist drivers includes sunglasses to minimize glare and prevent eye fatigue, footwear that improves one’s ability to operate the pedals, or gloves that ensure a firm grip on the steering wheel.

2. Applying the framework

Apply the framework from the top to bottom, eliminating the hazard is always your best choice. Substituting a less hazardous condition or process is the second most effective type of control, and so on through the hierarchy. PPE is the least effective type of control, so it is the last place you look for solutions.

Building a safe and effective work procedure in road safety

Sometimes, you will be able to eliminate a driving-related hazard in a single step. Looking through your road hazard inventory, several of the vehicle hazards fit into this category. If the vehicle has a cracked windshield or faulty brake lights, simply eliminate those hazards by making necessary repairs. If your employees can’t safely complete driving requirements of their job because of equipment that is not up to its intended tasks, eliminate those hazards by getting the right equipment.

Applying the framework involves asking questions and fixing them immediately. Questions like

A. How can we eliminate this hazard? What can we do to make sure our employees don’t encounter this hazard?

B. Can we use substitution to reduce the risks? Can we use a driver with specific training or proven skills for these driving circumstances?

C. Can we re-design our work processes to minimize risks caused by driving-related hazards? Can we reduce the amount of driving our employees do?

D. What well-targeted training can we provide to our employees to make sure they have the right skills and behaviours when they are driving for work?

E. If we can’t prevent exposure to the hazard and there is no true driving PPE, what personal gear might help?

Applying framework work is basically on providing an answer to all the questions listed above and following the solutions provided immediately.