4. Look after your workers’ health
Make sure your workers are fit to drive[6] and have any medical certificates they must have in law. They must satisfy eyesight and other health requirements of the Highway Code and DVLA. Encourage them to report any health concerns and check with their GP if they are unsure if any medicines they take could impair their judgement.
Fatigue
Workers need to be aware of how dangerous fatigue can be and what to do if they start to feel sleepy.
Tiredness increases reaction time and reduces vigilance, alertness, and concentration, which impairs your ability to drive. It can also affect how fast you process information and the quality of your decision-making.
Drivers and riders are most likely to suffer from fatigue:
- on long journeys on monotonous roads, such as motorways
- between 2am and 6am or 2pm and 4pm
- after eating
- after long working hours or on journeys home after long shifts, especially night shifts
Stress and mental health issues
Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from stress at work[7] by doing a risk assessment and acting on it.
Stress is not an illness but it can make you ill. Recognising the signs[8] will help employers to tackle the causes before they lead to ill health. The earlier a problem is tackled, the less impact it will have on your business.
Posture
Take account of ergonomic considerations (like driving position and how easy the controls are to reach) before buying or leasing new vehicles.
Make sure drivers’ health, and possibly safety, is not being put at risk from an inappropriate seating position or driving posture.
Provide drivers with guidance on good posture and, where appropriate, on how to set their seat correctly.