Health & safety bulletin
Vehicle checks
27th April 2007
Every year a significant number of people are killed or injured by accidents involving vehicles travelling to, from or in the workplace. With better planning and awareness, and the appropriate use of vehicles, these accidents could be avoided.
Employees have a duty to look after their own Health & Safety and that of anyone affected by their work actions.
By law employers have to ensure that work equipment is in good working order. This includes workplace vehicles. Vehicles should be regularly maintained so that they are mechanically sound and roadworthy via vehicle service, road tax, insurance, and MOT.
Planned inspections are an important part of maintenance by the driver, these range from basic safety checks before using the vehicle (water, oil, tyres, lights, indicators, wipers etc) to regular maintenance inspections carried out based on time or mileage.
Preventative maintenance is also required to help avoid failure during daily vehicle use, this should be regular and frequent and enough to comply with the manufacturers guidelines.
Particular attention should be paid to brakes, steering, tyres, mirrors, windscreen washers and wipers, any warning lights or devices, i.e. hazards, fog lights, indicators, seatbelts etc, or any hydraulic or pneumatic systems, oil and water.
If using a company vehicle it is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that the daily and weekly checks are carried out and any defects or problems are reported to a supervisor ASAP. Please inform the office immediately if a vehicle needs servicing, this will be carried out as soon as is practical.
VEHICLE SAFETY CHECKLIST - REMINDER
- Tyres must be checked daily for tyre wall damage and depth tread.
- Report any damage or defect immediately.
- Ensure you have a complete First Aid Box and Fire Extinguisher in case of emergencies
- Check all mirrors are clean and undamaged.
- Test front and rear lights and indicators and fog lights.
- Ensure your Vehicle registration plate is clean and intact.
- Check windscreen wipers and washer bottle fluid level.
- Visually check Battery connections.
- Check vehicle tax disc is valid.
- Check windscreen for damage and ensure it is clean.
- Test seat belts - engage belt and pull rapidly in forward direction to see if it stops.
- Check all instrument and alarms, warning lights.
- Try the horn - only to be used to in accordance with the Highway Code.
- Check the steering.
- Try the brakes.
- Ensure the vehicle is clean and tidy inside and out.
- Ensure there is a spare wheel, jack and wheel brace.