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If you work in the taxi or commercial transport domain, you need to be extra careful when choosing to work with a potential employer. Even regular businesses that allow employees to use company vehicles need to be reviewed carefully from a safety perspective before you start working from them. Whether a company operates with only a few cars or has a huge fleet, motor vehicle safety is among the critical aspects of occupational safety for them.
Managers need to reward safe behavior with incentives and penalize employees who neglect safety at any point. They also need to make sure that every single employee in the organization follows the policy strictly, regardless of their role and position.Click To TweetAny business that goes slack with safety can suffer from serious consequences such as fines, liability, work disruptions, and several costs associated with on-the-job accidents. Moreover, they will probably end up losing their reputation in the market, both as a business and a potential employer. For an employee considering a prospective employer, it is vital to ensure that the company has an effective vehicle safety program in place. Here are some factors that you can consider for this purpose.
Managerial support
First things first, find out if the company’s motor vehicle safety program has support from the top level of management. It has to be more than only verbal support, as the top-level executives need to go the extra mile for prioritizing safety as a part of the workplace culture, be it the safety in processes and on-premises or the way employees use equipment or company vehicles. Managers need to reward safe behavior with incentives and penalize employees who neglect safety at any point. They also need to make sure that every single employee in the organization follows the policy strictly, regardless of their role and position.
Employee training
When the use of business vehicles is a norm for a company, a training program for the employees is not a choice. The company should verify the driving records and credentials of every new employee who joins and is likely to use company cars during his or her tenure. The training program should include best practices for safe driving, specific safety measures that drivers must take on the road, and relevant laws related to speed limits, load weight, seat belt use, etc. They must also be trained to detect defects in the vehicles and have them resolved as quickly as possible. A company that has regular refresher programs as a part of the training program is a good choice for job seekers.
Continuous program
Another factor that makes a plus while assessing a prospective employer is their commitment to go the extra mile with continuous vehicle safety programs. Safety is clearly not a one-time initiative and a business cannot be too sure about having the right measures in place. If the employees are driving business vehicles or even personal vehicles for job tasks, there is a risk of accidents. Every time a mishap happens, the victims will have top-tier car accident lawyers fighting for their compensation claims. The value of the settlement can be massive when companies are involved. So it makes sense to investigate incidents as they occur and refresh the policy to ensure that similar events do not happen in the future.
Vehicle maintenance
Another factor that can help you judge the employer’s seriousness about employee safety is their outlook towards vehicle maintenance. While they should ensure that the maintenance department looks after heavy maintenance, routine maintenance should also not be overlooked. Seek information about facts like practices for keeping tires inflated properly and ensuring that the fluids are at correct levels at all times. Further, vehicle operators should be educated and aware enough to understand how small and big maintenance issues can cause accidents. They should be encouraged to report maintenance issues and also provided the means to do so.
Strict rules against negligent driving
An employee that enforces strict rules against negligent driving is ideal from the vehicle safety perspective. They will ensure that every person who is allowed to operate the company car is healthy enough to prevent accidents due to impairment or sickness. Further, strict rules against driving under the influence and distracted driving are equally important for any organization that wants to make sure that safety is never compromised for their employees and others on the road. Installation of onboard technologies for driver behavior monitoring indicates the intention of being extra conscious about employee safety.
An employer who is serious about employee safety and well-being is always a good one to work for. If you work in the transport industry, it becomes all the more crucial to assess a potential employer’s safety record because your life hinges on their safety initiatives. It is vital to ensure that they value your life and have you covered on all these fronts.
Workplace safety is failing. Despite better procedures now in place on the job, people are still getting hurt. The problem lies in our thinking. We must shift the focus from rules to relationships.
