Licence Check welcomes Government guidance on working safely with vehicles

Licence Check has welcomed updated Government guidance on working safely with vehicles during the Coronavirus pandemic as more businesses look to return to work.

The government advice applies to couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles and field forces, all of whom are covered in updated guidance from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Working Safely during Coronavirus (COVID 19 - Vehicles) sets out eight different areas for consideration and suggests practical steps for employers, employees and the self-employed to address specifically in relation to working in or from a vehicle.

The guidance stresses that a clear primary objective is that all employers need to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19.

Terry Hiles, general manager at Licence Check, said: “This updated guidance should be carefully noted by all those who plan a return to work and have business related drivers who satisfy the criteria set out in the new guidelines.

"There are some clear guidelines that companies need to understand and follow across all eight sections of the guidance. There is a paramount requirement to make sure all workers understand and apply COVID-19 related safety procedures that the company is introducing.”

The guidance covers key areas including who should go to work, social distancing at work, managing customers, visitors and contractors, cleaning the workplace, PPE and face coverings, workforce management and inbound and outbound goods.

The guidance reiterates that most workers should continue to work from home, but recognises that for certain sectors, such as construction, distribution and logistics, the nature of work will make it difficult for many workers to work remotely.

On returning to work, the guidance says that businesses need to provide clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of the new ways of working. It also stresses the importance of developing training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.

Hiles said: “Within our DAVIS platform we have the ability to submit policy documents and practical guidance to drivers, and for them to acknowledge that they have received any initial documents and any updates. Also, for them to confirm that they have understood it, thereby creating a clear audit trail.

“It would also be possible to create a training module within our e-learning programme that clearly sets out, in video and/or written format, company policy for all drivers to see and confirm that they have understood the new policy. They could even have practical questions included to test their understanding and reinforce messages and policy.”