Fleets get health and safety masterclass to keep compliant (video)

Fleets were reminded of their grey fleet responsibilities in a health and safety masterclass at this year’s Fleet and Mobility Live.

Alison Moriarty, client compliance director at Beverley Bell Consulting and Training, gave an in-depth tour of the most important pieces of legislation that influence how fleets run their cars, vans and trucks, and manage their drivers.

Highlighting the importance of managing employees who drive their own cars for work – the so-called grey fleet – Moriarty told visitors to Fleet and Mobility Live: “Your grey fleet is part of your fleet. 

“The fact that somebody owns a vehicle and insures a vehicle does not mean that you’re absolved from responsibility. 

“They are working on your behalf doing those journeys, so you have exactly the same responsibilities to make sure that those drivers are doing what they should be doing when they’re carrying out the journeys for you.”

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999), it says that it is “the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees”.

As far as grey fleet is concerned, this means if a vehicle is being used to travel for business, regardless of who it is owned by, the employer is responsible for ensuring that it is fit for purpose, adequately maintained and that it can be safely driven.

If an employee is involved in an incident while driving for work, their employer could be liable for any damage or injuries that occur.

Appearing on stage alongside Moriarty at Fleet and Mobility Live, Steve Crawshaw, commercial vehicle fleet consultant at Ayvens, also stressed the need for employers to manage the grey fleet. 

“If you’ve got one set of processes that are etched onto your business so every driver knows exactly what's expected of them and you’ve demonstrated that, then I would want that in place for every driver, regardless of whether it was an HGV, a van, a car, their own vehicle,” he said. 

“It sounds a lot of administration, but in comparison to the administrative mess if it wasn’t in place, it’s worth the investment.” 

“The cost of not doing it can be astronomical,” he added.

Do you fully understand all your legal obligations as a business and fleet leader? Watch the session below and you will be given an in-depth tour of the most important pieces of legislation that influence how you run your cars, vans and trucks, and manage your drivers.