Assessment details
Role or group assessed
Typical journeys Urban, regional, remote, night, single site to site, multi-drop
Typical distance and hours behind the wheel per shift
Vehicle types used, including workers' own vehicles
Assessor, date, and review date
The driver
- Licence is current, correct class, and checked at a set interval rather than at hire only
- Any licence conditions or restrictions are known and accommodated
- Driver has been inducted into the specific vehicle they use
- Additional training provided where the work warrants it, such as towing, four wheel drive or heavy vehicle
- Medical fitness to drive considered, including conditions and medications that affect driving
- Eyesight requirements met and rechecked periodically
- Driver knows the procedure for reporting a defect, an incident or feeling unfit to drive
- New and young drivers identified and given additional support
The vehicle
- Servicing is current and to the manufacturer's schedule
- Roadworthiness and registration current
- Prestart or periodic checks are done and recorded, covering tyres, lights, brakes and fluids
- Vehicle is suited to the task, the load and the terrain
- Loads are restrained, and nothing heavy is loose in the cabin
- Safety features present and working: seat belts, airbags, reversing camera or sensors
- First aid kit, fire extinguisher and warning triangle present where required
- Emergency and recovery equipment carried for remote travel
- Communications equipment suitable for the areas driven, including where mobile coverage fails
- Defect reporting is easy, and reported defects are actually fixed
The journey
- Journey is necessary, and alternatives such as a call or video meeting were considered
- Route planned, with rest stops for longer journeys
- Departure and arrival expectations are realistic for the distance and conditions
- Weather, road conditions and daylight considered, with a clear basis for postponing
- Parking and site arrival assessed, especially for night arrivals and unfamiliar locations
- Journey management or check-in arrangements in place for remote or high-risk travel
- Someone knows the route and expected arrival time, and will act if the driver does not arrive
- Driver can summon help from anywhere on the route, including where there is no mobile coverage
The schedule, which is where most driving risk is created
Most work-driving risk is designed in by the roster and the diary rather than caused by the driver on the day.
- Total work hours plus driving hours are within a defensible limit, not just driving hours alone
- Appointment scheduling allows realistic travel time between sites
- Drivers are not expected to drive after a full shift of physically or emotionally demanding work
- Early starts, late finishes and the post-lunch period are recognised as higher-risk windows
- On-call and callout driving is accounted for in fatigue management
- There is an accepted way to say a journey cannot be done safely, and it is respected
- Phone use while driving is prohibited, including hands free where the work allows
- Nobody is expected to answer calls, messages or navigate diary changes while driving
Risk table
| Hazard | Who is at risk | Existing controls | Rating | Further controls | Owner and due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Incident and breakdown response
What the driver does after a crash Safety first, then 999 if anyone is injured, then notify
Who they call, and the after-hours number
Breakdown and recovery arrangements
What happens if the driver is threatened or feels unsafe at a location
How an incident gets reported and investigated