Areas of Concern

An increase in depots and fleet size identified a number of fleet safety concerns which needed resolving such as:

• Inconsistent reporting of collision investigation & analysis processes throughout multiple depots
• Incomplete records monitoring exposure from collisions and incidents
• Diminished control over fleet risk management/prevention and road safety
• Potential and actual cost of exposure unknown
• Problem Third Party loading issues resulting in potential fatal/catastrophic collisions.

To fully understand the potential risks and cost exposure, new processes were required to enable the company to identify all risks involving a fleet vehicle.

The only way to do this was to implement a ‘zero tolerance’ towards reporting every collision or incident whether or not a Third Party was involved. This was further expanded to include the reporting of near miss incidents that could ultimately lead to a future collision or serious incident if not acted upon.

This was regardless of whether the collision, incident or near miss was: minor or serious; fault or non-fault; injury or no injury; or a claim was likely to be made or not.

An initial 6-month action plan was devised and agreed with the Health & Safety and Compliance Manager, who acted as liaison with the Board for sign off. The actions and results of the plan are detailed as follows:

• All Depot Managers took a ‘zero tolerance’ towards all collisions, incidents and near misses and communicated to all employees. Each issue had to be reported immediately or as soon as practically possible to a central contact point, their internal Insurance Department overseen by the Health & Safety and Compliance Manager. This centralised the reporting processes for all depots improving consistency and accuracy of the information obtained.
• Central contact instructed an investigation within 48 hours of a collision/incident/near miss.