WorkSafe urges Victorians to prioritise safety when driving for work

Mar 17th 2023 | Stephen Kariahe

WorkSafe urges Victorians to prioritise safety when driving for work

WorkSafe Urges Victorians to Prioritise Safety When Driving for Work

Victoria's workplace health and safety regulator, WorkSafe, reminds workers and employers to make safety a priority when driving for work. Sound fitness for work policies and consistent management of vehicle-related risks remain essential to preventing further tragedies on Victorian roads.

Key Facts on Work-Related Road Incidents

WorkSafe figures show 17 Victorian workers lost their lives in road incidents in 2022. This statistic underscores why transport-related risk management deserves attention from every employer whose staff spend time behind the wheel.

Employer and Worker Duties Under Health and Safety Law

WorkSafe's Executive Director of Health and Safety, Narelle Beer, said employers and workers share a duty to ensure all vehicles used for work purposes remain safe. Effective management of transport-related hazards forms part of broader workplace health obligations that apply across Victorian industries.

"Whenever a worker is on the road as part of their role, that vehicle is considered to be their workplace," Dr Beer said.

"This applies to any vehicle being used for the purpose of work, including personal vehicles, whether the worker is being paid an allowance or not."

Why Vehicles Count as Workplaces

Treating a vehicle as an extension of the workplace changes how businesses should approach transport safety management. Employees and self-employed workers alike carry responsibilities once they're behind the wheel for work purposes, and management systems should reflect this reality.

Consider these practical steps for transport safety management:

Assess vehicles regularly to confirm roadworthiness before use
Include transport-related risks within overall health and safety management plans
Document fitness for work requirements relevant to driving duties
Extend management oversight to personal vehicles used for work tasks

Building Stronger Transport Safety Management Practices

Robust management of health and safety extends beyond office environments into every vehicle used for business purposes. Businesses operating in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors often rely on transport as a core part of daily operations, making proactive management non-negotiable.

Organisations can strengthen their approach through comprehensive Work Health & Safety (WHS) Policy documentation and a detailed Work Health and Safety Manual (WHSM) that addresses vehicle-related management requirements specifically.

Further information is accessible here.

WorkSafe urges Victorians to prioritise safety when driving for work