Fleets and drivers urged to get Covid-19 Secure

Fleet operators and business drivers should ensure they are Covid-19 Secure and fully conversant with the Government’s recovery strategy guidance, says Licence Bureau.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has updated healthy and safety at work guidance in the past few days, which contains advice on working safely during coronavirus with vehicles.

There is guidance for people who work in or from vehicles, including couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles, field forces and similar.

Divided into eight sections, the document sets-out the considerations and practical steps for employers, employees and the self-employed to address in relation to working in or from a vehicle as England moves into step one of the road map to lift restrictions.

Steve Pinchen, sales director, Licence Bureau, said: “Covid-19 Secure is a new compliance measure that all businesses now need to adhere to, and that includes those who drive for business.

“We are reinforcing the Government’s very clear guidance on the subject and that is that everyone needs to assess and manage the risks of Covid-19. As an employer, you also have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to their health and safety.”

He continued: “Implementation and adherence to new compliance measures is an absolute must for all fleet operators and business drivers.”

The ‘Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) – Vehicles’ document sets out eight areas of focus for businesses and individuals to consider in order to assess risk and take preventative measures.

It encourages businesses to share the results of any risk assessment with their workforce with an expectation that those with over 50 employees would publish on their website.

“Remember for the foreseeable future, workers should continue to work from home rather than their normal physical workplace, wherever possible,” said Pinchen.

“But with some sectors of the economy, for example construction, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution reopening for business this is the ‘new norm’.

“There will be those fleets with strong health and safety cultures and practices already in place that will adapt seamlessly, whilst inevitably others will be challenged by the additional measures.

“Regardless, being Covid-19 Secure is a must and working alongside businesses, we need to help lead that change.”

The Working safely during coronavirus (Covid-19) – Vehicles document has been prepared by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).