March 2010, Work Truck - Feature
Risk Management: Best Practices of a Safe Fleet Operation
Is your fleet safe? Minimize driver risk and lower accident rates through a safety and risk management program. Whether outsourced or run in-house, a comprehensive program is critical.
By Cheryl Knight
Maintaining a safe and risk-free fleet operation is crucial to operating a successful business. Whether a truck fleet is small or large, minimizing driver risk and accident rates saves time, money, and even lives.
Creating, implementing, and maintaining a thorough risk management and safety program is not only a must-do for fleets today, but is the only comprehensive way to control liability issues.
A "true" fleet risk management and safety program considers the entire risk picture. According to Edward Emerick, lead safety consultant, Keller Consulting & Educational Resources, at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., companies must first take into account regulations and the best practices driven from those regulations.
"Businesses must also examine how to effectively incorporate these best practices into their operation and company culture," Emerick said. "Look at all information and requirements and put it together to see how your fleet will really work. Make it as easy as possible so it is really effective and not so intrusive your best practices are not functional. If it's cumbersome and not manageable, it won't work because those practices become only words on a paper."
Emerick stressed "true" fleet safety management includes:
■ Regulatory compliance.
■ Risk management.
■ Loss prevention.
■ Human management.
■ Asset protection.
■ Employees.
■ Business.
■ Brand.
Implement 8 Key Elements
What are the key elements to a risk management program, and why are they essential best practices for a safe fleet operation?
Emerick recommended businesses implement eight risk and safety management program elements:
1. Written policy.
2. Program administration and accountability.
3. Driver selection and review.
4. Driver training and discipline.
5. Drug and alcohol testing.
6. Accident reporting and analysis.
7. Vehicle inspection and maintenance.
8. Recordkeeping.
Task-Driven Policy Effective
Start with the written policy. Avoid thick policy manuals with lots of cumbersome language. It's just not effective. What is effective is task-driven policy.
"If the task mandated by the policy is followed, then you'll have safety covered and also meet regulatory policies," Emerick said.
He advises incorporating the following issues in writing policy:
■ Program administration and accountability.
■ Responsibilities.
■ Driver selection and review.
■ Driver discipline - rewards and consequences.
■ Driver training.
■ Hours of Service.
■ Accident reporting, investigation, and analysis.
■ Required drug and alcohol testing.
■ Vehicle safety equipment, inspection, and use.
"Remember to relate your policy to your operations, exposures, and hazards," Emerick said.