GSP 14-19 Driver Safety Issues
15/August/2019
Description
You will be aware of the Union’s endeavours to improve the awareness of Health and Safety in the workplace. In this regard significant improvements have been made in recent years with the assistance of the Joint Conciliation Council Health and Safety Committee.
At this Sub Committee both the Union and the Company have the opportunity to raise issues of concern to either sides. At our most recent meeting the Company highlighted significant safety breaches by Postal Operatives performing driving duties. These safety breaches could have potential for serious injury or fatalities to either drivers or pedestrians.
The first issue refers to the non-use by certain Postal Operatives of the vehicles hand brake. The Company have advised us that they have issued a number of safety bulletins on its use, but the number of rollaway incidents has increased. In many cases a company van has rolled into another vehicle or collided with masonry and in some incidents, the vehicle has tipped over.
The Company further advises that given the seriousness and potential danger to the public that the non-observance of this normal safety measure is a serious cause of concern and one in which they are obliged to take a pre-emptive approach in order to prevent serious damage and injury. The Union supports the Company in its endeavours and would advise members that they need to ensure the correct use of the handbrake. Drivers should be aware that they are responsible for the vehicle once they take it out either for delivery or collection and that if an incident occurs, they may not only be liable for a disciplinary sanction up to and including dismissal but they may also leave themselves subject to prosecution.
The second issue refers to non-compliance with the legal requirement for drivers to wear seatbelts. The Company is aware from safety audits of situations whereby seatbelts are not worn, are locked in place before the driver sits in the vehicle or a salvaged seat buckle is used for the same purpose.
The Company has again advised the Union the practice is completely unacceptable and that it would regard this to be a conscious decision by an individual to deliberately circumvent the safety features of the vehicle. Apart obviously from the most serious matter of placing the driver and others at risk, the failure to wear a seatbelt and comply with the law potentially voids the company insurance on the vehicle.
The Company has advised the Union that they will use every opportunity to change drivers’ behaviours through communication, briefings etc. The Company will also continue its training initiatives to ensure drivers awareness of general safety issues. The Union is supportive of this awareness campaign, as it places Health & Safety over and above the inconvenience of having to wear the seatbelt or use the handbrake. The Union is also anxious to have individuals avoid having themselves embroiled in the company disciplinary procedures or indeed prosecution because of any deliberate decision to circumvent the above.
I would appreciate it if you could bring this circular to the attention of all drivers and impress upon them the need to adhere to the above.