A NEW AWARENESS campaign has been launched urging employers to ensure the safety of all staff who drive for work.

The joint initiative by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Health & Safety Authority (HSA) and An Garda Síochána is reminding employers that “proper measures must be put in place” to make sure their staff are as protected as possible. This includes both professional drivers and those who drive as part of their job.

RSA chief executive Moyagh Murdock described how people who drive for work are 40% more likely than other drivers to be involved in an incident. She added that business owners “need to understand that they have a legal and moral responsibility towards employees who drive as part of their job”.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Michael Finn echoed Murdock’s sentiments and said that employers run the risk of ruining their reputations and bringing needless heartache to families.

He said: “An Garda Síochána’s message to any employer who does not have a driving for work safety system in place is to put one in place as soon as possible, there is an obligation to do so and the consequences of not having one are too grave for this to be dismissed.

At best in the event of a collision, you are risking your reputation as a fair and compliant employer – at worst you could have to live with the guilt of being responsible for someone’s serious injury or even death.

“The benefits of implementing a driving for work programme greatly outweigh the costs. Benefits to the business include increased employee loyalty and enhanced public image, reduced likelihood of employee injury or death and subsequent sickness and dependency costs and increased productivity.”

The HSA has developed a free online course gardaí and the RSA. The objective of the course is to educate employers about the risks associated with driving for work and how to manage employees, vehicles and work related journeys to prevent collisions on the road. The course can be accessed at www.drivingforwork.ie

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