RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

December 9, 2004
NEW AWARDS ENCOURAGE SAFETY AMONG FLEET OPERATORS

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is launching a new award scheme to recognise the efforts made by businesses and organisations to reduce deaths and injuries on UK roads.

Any organisation with a fleet of vehicles can enter for the RoSPA Managing Occupational Road Risk Awards. Entrants need to demonstrate robust risk management systems and culture as well as an improving work-related road accident record.

Fleets can be large or small and run any type of vehicle – cars, trucks, vans or motorcycles.

Between 800 and 1,000 deaths on Britain’s roads each year are linked to people driving as part of their job. The Health and Safety Executive and the Department for Transport have made it clear that employers have duties under health and safety law to manage the risks faced by employees when on the road.

The awards will be made at gold, silver, bronze and merit levels. All entries will automatically be considered for the RoSPA MORR Trophy, which will go to the most outstanding entrant for the year.

Entrants for gold awards must provide four years of accident records, for silver three years of data, for bronze two and for merit one. They will also be required to answer 10 key performance questions to explain their policies and procedures for managing occupational road risk.

Charles Davis, RoSPA Head of Driver and Fleet Solutions, said: “One of the best ways to raise health and safety standards is to encourage and reward those who head the field and lead by example.

“We hope this new scheme will persuade fleet operators to build on their success each year so that they go on to achieve higher and higher awards as they play their part in making Britain’s roads safer.”

The awards will be presented at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel, at the NEC, in May. They will be part of the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards, sponsored by RMC Group plc, which honour around 1,100 winners each year. Some will also be presented at RoSPA Scotland in September.

The closing date for entries is February 28, 2005. For further information, contact the RoSPA Awards Helpline on 0121 248 2090, e-mail awards@rospa.com or see www.rospa.com/awards