QFleet Road Safety Manual - Department of Housing and Public ...

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Foreword The Queensland Government is totally committed to road safety. The Government recognises the increased risks associated with work-related driver safety and the need for targeted programs which aim to manage that risk. It is also recognised that safety initiatives, such as this manual, have wider social benefits including a positive effect on reducing trauma and controlling costs. I commend the QFleet Road Safety Manual for the Queensland Government motor vehicle fleet to you. Robert Schwarten MP Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology 4 Road Safety Manual
Introduction This Manual aims to provide practical advice to agencies, managers, fleet managers and drivers on measures to reduce risks associated with work-related driving. As the Queensland Government’s fleet manager, QFleet provides advice and consultation on fleet, road and driver safety related issues. The QFleet Road Safety Manual for the Queensland Government motor vehicle fleet is a foundation document for use by agencies in establishing a robust road safety program. It is intended that such a road safety program will encourage drivers to consider and manage the risks of driving, to use the road safely and to influence other drivers. Safe work-related driving is a shared responsibility This Manual encourages the adoption of sound workplace health and safety (WHS) practices and provides information to agencies as to how to develop a work-related safe driving program, including a policy and related processes. The advice is presented in the context that the vehicle is a workplace and thus covered by the Workplace Health and Safety Act (Qld) 1995 (WHS Act) and associated regulations. Application The focus of this Manual is to provide assistance to agencies to better manage their work-related driving tasks to eliminate or reduce risks as far as is reasonably practicable. This can be achieved by incorporating practices which aim to achieve safer work-related driving outcomes. This Manual deals with work-related driving using a condensed risk management framework as a basis for the development of a safe driving program. This process begins with assessing risk factors on and off the road, identifying and implementing control measures, through to monitoring and reviewing work-related driving safety. Queensland Government agencies should aim to develop and implement policies and practices based on this Manual as soon as practicable. This Manual focuses on passenger vehicles including 4WDs and light commercial vehicles such as utilities and small vans, rather than large vehicles. Work-related driving in Australia is a major risk exposure for employers The risks associated with work-related driving are often underestimated. The following statistics highlight the significance of work-related driving as a safety issue: • Work-related driving crashes account for approximately 35% of all occupational fatalities in Australia. 1 • Data from the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) indicate that vehicle accidents represent 42% of all compensated work fatalities. 2 • Work-related road crashes incur a greater average time lost in worker absence than any other workplace claim. 3 • Vehicle crashes are twice as likely to result in death or permanent disability as any other form of workplace incident. 4 The following statistics highlight road safety as an issue of social cost and organisational performance: • The social cost of road crashes in Australia in 2006 was estimated to be $17.85 billion or 1.7% of GDP, (comprising fatal crashes $3.87 billion, injury crashes $9.61 billion and property damage crashes of $4.36 billion). 5 • The average cost of a fatal road crash is estimated at $2.67 million, a crash requiring hospitalisation is $266 000 and a non-hospitalised crash is $14 700. 6 • The estimated total cost of vehicle repairs resulting from the 1.16 million vehicles which were involved in an estimated 635 000 crashes in 2006 was $4.2 billion. 1 Safe Work Australia, 2008, Notified Fatalities Statistical Report 2008-09. 2 SafeWork Australia, 2010, Compendium of Workers Compensation Statistics, 2007-08: p.40. 3 CARRS-Q, State of the Road: Work Related Road Safety Fact Sheet, 2008. 4 Ibid. 5 Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Research report - Cost of road crashes in Australia 2006 - Report 118, 2009 6 Ibid. Road Safety Manual 5
Page 1 and 2: QFleet Road Safety Manual for the Q
Page 3 and 4: Contents Acknowledgements..........
Page 5: Acknowledgements The QFleet Road Sa
Page 9 and 10: WHS law and work-related driving sa
Page 11 and 12: Fleet management and work-related d
Page 13 and 14: Structure of the Manual: a risk man
Page 15 and 16: Workplace risk assessment The table
Page 17 and 18: Risk 3: Fatigue Fatigue is mental o
Page 19 and 20: Risk 5: Adverse conditions Driving
Page 21 and 22: Consult on work-related driving Emp
Page 23 and 24: Vehicle Selection Checklist Consul
Page 25 and 26: As part of the program to promote s
Page 27 and 28: Is the work-related driver safety p

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