I'm an employer
Advice for employers
If you employ people who drive, remember, fatigue is bad for business because it leads to:
- Inefficient staff who make mistakes.
- Collisions which damage your vehicles and lead to loss of staff time.
- Sick days taken by over-tired staff.
-
Risk of prosecution.
The solution is:
- Set realistic schedules and targets
(if you don't you, as the employer, may be held responsible). - Try to avoid schedules between midnight and 6am - this is when the body wants to sleep.
- Monitor hours worked.
- Ensure drivers take regular breaks as indicated in the Highway Code.
- Ensure regular checks on drivers' mental and physical health.
Employers also have a responsibility to ensure that they do not encourage their employees to use a hand held mobile phone. If a driver becomes involved in a serious or fatal incident, the employer could face charges under the new Corporate Manslaughter Act, introduced earlier in 2008.
