BUSINESS LEADERS PRAISE TTC ROAD RISK COURSE
Business leaders have praised a training course which highlighted the importance of managing occupational road risk at work.
Herefordshire Council called in the TTC Group, which specialises in work related road safety working in partnership with local authorities and other organisations, to run the seminar in Hereford.
The aim is to educate bosses and their staff to reduce road and injury statistics in the region. There were 17 deaths, 130 serious injuries and 732 people slightly hurt in road crashes in the county last year.
Up to 40 local businesses and representatives attended The Courtyard Theatre in Hereford to hear from leading road safety professionals, experts from the insurance world, police, and Government transport advisors.
They heard that a third of all road crashes are work related and that there was much that companies could do to protect their workforce.
Robert Bartup, Managing Director of UK and European removals company GB Liners, said that the seminar raised many issues which his company would be investigating.
“It certainly raised issues which I hadn’t thought about before and gave me plenty to think about,” said Mr Bartup whose company employs 150 drivers.
“The scale of the risk is quite frightening in terms of possible prosecutions and trying to protect staff.”
Emma Lane, health and safety officer with Herefordshire Council, said the course was “very useful” in how to cope with the “minefield” of legislation.
“It showed you how to get through the legislation. It was very helpful.”
She said she had been “shocked” by the information on alcohol which she had been unaware of before.
Patrick Nash, Transport Collection Manager for the Royal Mail, said that the seminar had “something for everyone” but in particular it had “valuable” information on alcohol and drugs.
“It was an eye opener. I didn’t realise the strength of drinks had gone up so much and how easy it was to step over the line. I will be passing that valuable information onto my drivers.”
TTC organiser Colin Pettener said that delegates realised how important it was to Manage Occupational Road Risk. A ten point action plan on how to implement workforce strategies was given to attenders.
The aims of the day were to give managers and their drivers the chance to consider the problems and risks and come up with practical solutions associated with every day driving.
The responsibilities and consequences of bad driving on the environment and the impact on a company and individuals of Health and Safety at Work laws were also addressed.
“A third of all road traffic crashes are work related with speed being a contributory factor. If companies can learn how to contribute to reducing these statistics it will benefit their business and the roads of Herefordshire will be safer,” added Mr Pettener, who this year received an MBE for his contribution to local Government.
For more information about corporate driving courses please contact Colin Pettener at The TTC Group, Hadley Park, Telford TF1 6QJ or call 0845 270 4363 or visit www.ttc-uk.com or email train@ttc-uk.com
