RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
May 16, 2003
FLEET AWARD WINNER SLASHES ACCIDENT RATE
Palmer and Harvey McLane Ltd of Hove are the first winners of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents award for managing occupational road risk.
P&H have almost halved their accident rate in recent years.
The judges were impressed by the strenuous efforts that the wholesale and distribution company make to ensure the safety of their fleet of 900 trucks and 450 cars.
They employ 4,000 people and cover 40 million kilometres a year to make nearly two million deliveries.
P&H will receive the award from Lord Brougham and Vaux, vice-president of RoSPA, at the Birmingham Hilton Metopole Hotel at the NEC on Thursday, May 22.
Initiatives employed by the company include: computer-based driver assessments, driver training targeted to individual branch needs, driver assessors based at all main branches, discussions on route scheduling and planning, and an “accident free” bonus scheme. Improved control measures have also allowed them to adopt a far greater level of self-insurance.
Ray Ward, Group Transport Manager for P&H, said: “In just over three years, we have almost halved our accident rate and dramatically reduced our costs.
“We are proud to be the first recipient’s of this award as it demonstrates that hard work and commitment to the cause of occupational road safety pays off by benefiting not only the company, but its employees and all road users.”
Charles Davis, RoSPA Head of Driver and Fleet Solutions, said: “We decided to introduce this new award to celebrate the work being done to reduce the number of people killed or injured as a result of occupational road accidents, which are a major problem in this country.
“P&H are a shining light to other fleet operators on how to manage safety. We hope to see many others following their lead.”
Highly commended were Glasgow-based ScottishPower Fleet Business.
