Planning and Implementation
A planned approach based on the results of the fleet safety evaluation and a risk assessment (see 'Evaluation' section for information on conducting risk assessments) will ensure continuous improvements in the management of fleet safety.
Planning should include:
• Defining and developing of the Fleet Safety Management System
• Implementation tasks and priorities
• Monitoring key performance indicators to quickly identify performance changes within the organisation
• Setting specific implementation targets and milestones
Planning is the key to ensuring that your fleet safety efforts really work. Planning for fleet safety involves setting objectives, identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing standards of performance and developing a positive culture. The organisation’s plans will need to be recorded in writing for future reference.
Your planning will need to include:
• Identifying hazards and assessing risks, and deciding how they can be eliminated or controlled.
• Complying with the fleet and road safety rules and regulations that apply to your organisation and region/s in which you operate.
• Agreeing fleet safety targets and objectives with managers and supervisors.
• A vehicle and equipment procurement policy which takes safety into account.
• Design of tasks, processes, equipment and services, and safe systems of work.
• Procedures to deal with emergencies.
• Cooperation with contractors and others.
• Setting standards against which performance can be measured.
Standards help to build a positive culture and control risks. They set out what people in the organisation will do to deliver your policy and control risk. They should identify who does what, when and with what result.
Three key points about standards - standards must be; measurable, achievable and realistic. Statements such as ‘staff must be trained’ are difficult to measure if you don’t know exactly what ‘trained’ means and who is to do the work.
Examples of standards the organisation might consider adopting include:
• Completing risk assessments and implementing the controls required.
• Completing driver training requirements.
• Ensuring all new vehicles meet safety requirements.
• Arranging to consult staff or their representatives at set intervals.
• Monitoring performance in particular ways at set times.
Fleet and driving standards should include items from the 'Tools and Resources' section. What the organisation decides to include will depend on the maturity of its current Fleet Safety Management System and the outcomes of its own risk assessment.
How can they get support to choose.
The plan should be prioritised to ensure the highest value is gained and to take account of “quick wins” which can be put in place relatively simply and quickly.
Planning is an essential step to ensure the organisation is clear on what is being developed, how it will be implemented and to ensure allocation of appropriate resources to see it through.
