Fleet safety

Motor vehicle crashes cost employers $60 billion a year in medical care, legal expenses, property damage and lost productivity, OSHA reports. Crashes increase benefits costs, including workers’ comp, Social Security and health and disability insurance. Employers can expect to pay $16,500 for an average crash. When an employee has an on-the-job crash resulting in an injury, the cost to the employer is $74,000.

It’s clear that employers should do everything they can to prevent their employees from crashing a work vehicle — and not just because it’s the right thing to do.

• Keep the fleet well maintained, and remove vehicles with problems immediately.
• Ensure all workers have valid licenses for vehicle they drive.
• Enforce seat belt use and follow through with consequences.
• Keep current driving records for all employees.
• Ensure delivery schedules allow drivers to obey speed limits.
• Do not pressure workers to do business on their cell phones.

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) has developed a 10-step approach to help employers implement a safe driving program. The guide is available at www.trafficsafety.org/primer.asp.