Yes, we know that this site and Purcell Enterprises are about workplace health and safety. But do you know who can be affected most by poor workplace health and safety programs? you and your employees – the people who make the company. In that vein, it is only natural to extend the idea of being healthy and safe not just to a work site but also to the people who conduct their business on that work site.
[IMAGE CREDIT: billp121 via Flickr]Distracted-driving activities, like putting on makeup and using a cell phone, can adversely affect a safe workplace policy or campaign if your workers use company vehicles or personal vehicles for business reasons.
However, with many businesses, a workplace health and safety program may likely include the use of vehicles during business travel. There are many businesses that essentially conduct most or all of their transport, transactions and/or sales revenue from a company vehicle or a personal vehicle used for business uses like deliveries or site visits. And it is from this angle that we spend a little time explaining some of the workplace risks of driving with a company car … even if it’s not necessarily a company car.
There is little doubt that accidents happen on the roadways, even when we as drivers follow all the rules of the road. Things happen, and some accidents can be severe enough to force workers to miss some time from work, and that of course affects company productivity and can lead to more costs in paying for sick leave or personal time, perhaps hiring temporary workers if the worker’s absence will be sustained for several weeks or months, not to mention worker’s compensation claims if the accident happens while the vehicle was on a business errand or trip. As a boss or team leader, there are some things you can include in your health and safety program in regards to the use of company vehicles or personal vehicles for business use. One of the first things you should do as such a leader is stress to your workers the importance of good driving habits, and this can include alerting them to some of the top causes for accidents – causes that could be avoided and controlled by your workers.
Cintas Corporation recently revealed several of the most dangerous driving behaviors, and they all have to do with some level of distraction – all of these behaviors can be controlled by your employees when they drive a vehicle for business purposes, and understanding these behaviors and teaching your employees to be watchful for their behaviors can facilitate the necessary changes so that all workers who drive are safe and productive through their entire shift, not just the time they are out of their vehicles and in their offices.
If you are a business that has company vehicles or requires workers to use personal vehicles for business reasons, it would be good to have a health and safety meeting to alert your workers to these distracted-driving activities, as distracted driving contributes to a large percentage of auto accidents – which, by extension, cause dramatic rises in auto insurance, and higher expenses for a company should there be lost work time and/or litigation if drivers at fault were on your time clock at the time of the accident.
1. Eating. Yes, holding that hamburger or taking those fries out of their container can qualify as distracted driving, as eating the food will involve removing one hand from the steering wheel. And what might happen if you spill ketchup on your tie and you just have to look to make sure it didn’t land on your dry-cleaned slacks?
2. Farding. This is not a typo; this is the act of putting on makeup. it is easy to be tempted to put on makeup in the car, since there is a rear-view mirror or a mirror attached to the sun visor. But makeup is not a hands-free activity; and spending as much or more time looking in mirrors compared to the windshield is just asking for trouble. How pretty you look won’t matter if the airbag gets deployed. Wait until you get to your destination, or allow for time before you even get in the car.
3. Digi-communicating. This is more about communicating with people outside of the car via electronic devices. There are laws in several states specifically banning texting while driving, and some actually prohibit even using a phone in any manner while the car is being operated. Don’t use the phone for any reason; if it’s an emergency (a real one), pull over.
4. Fatiguing. Driving while drowsy can be just as dangerous as driving drunk, and has similar behaviors on the road. About one-third of all drivers admit to driving while they are struggling to keep eyes open. If you feel fatigued, pull over and take a quick nap; if you are already tired before getting in the car, ask for a ride from someone who has had some sleep.
5. Raging. Road rage, even if your eyes are on the road, can be distracted driving because if you are emotional your mind can lose focus on driving properly. Yes, there are bad or impatient drivers out there; don’t be one of them, and resist the urge to react emotionally and irrationally if you come across one of these people.
6. Rebelling. Breaking laws and rules of the road can certainly be distracting. Keep an eye out for running stop signals, making illegal turns or speeding.
7. Daydreaming. While it can be easy to use time in the car to check your to-do list for the day or to think about that most recent argument with your spouse, doing those mental actions takes your focus away from driving. Before you drive, write your to-do list (or your apology to your spouse) on a piece of paper so you can review and remember it later and keep your mind clear so you can drive safely.