Driving for work- A safer way to keep in touch

Supplier of safety clothing and equipment Arco has banned its employees banned from using mobile phones and associated hands-free technology while driving on company business to ensure their safety.

The company

says recent studies have shown that people using hands-free phones

while driving are just as likely to have a car crash as those using

hand-held phones. 

Commenting on its campaign, which was launched on 30 March, HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “This is a good example of leadership in action. A company whose
business is health and safety needs to lead by example with its own workforce.”

To avoid any disruption in customer service levels, Arco has introduced a new customer contact strategy for field-based employees who spend long periods in their car visiting customers, with calls diverted to alternative team members who will be able to answer immediate enquiries. This will ensure that customers will continue to receive excellent service from Arco while employees stay safe, says the company.

Explained Sandra Bateson, Arco’s HR director: “The safety of our employees is very important to us. We are particularly interested in the safety of our field-based staff who are travelling around the country providing support and expertise to our customers and we plan to lead the way on improving the safety of our staff and other road users with the introduction of this initiative. Arco is enabling its staff to use a safer way to keep in touch.”

As part of its campaign to highlight safe use of mobile phones, Arco has introduced recycling bins to it’s 39 branches across the UK to encourage its customers and the local community to recycle their unused or unwanted mobile phones. Added Sandra Bateson: “The money raised from these mobile phones will be donated to the Jo Martin Cancer Care Trust, our nominated charity, in order to raise much-needed funds for cancer research.”

Driving for Better Safety - Free eBook download

This eBook will guide you through some of the key understandings you need to be able to manage driver safety effectively and, at the end, provide a series of free resources you can access to help you ensure your own driver safety management system is robust, legally compliant and in line with industry-accepted good practice.

Download this eBook from Driving for Better Business and SHP to cover:

• Why do we need to manage driver safety?
• Duty of care – a shared responsibility;
• Setting the rules with a driving for work policy;
• Managing driver safety;
• Ensuring safe vehicles;
• Safe journeys and fitness to drive;
• Record keeping;
• Reporting;
• The business benefits of good practice;
• Additional resources

Download Now