Receiving a call from the police to learn that one of your employees has been tragically killed in a road traffic collision is a nightmare scenario for any employer.
Worse still is hearing that their death could have been prevented. It’s a chilling reminder of an often-overlooked aspect of workplace safety: protecting our employees who drive.
The harsh reality unfolded when the police explained that the collision itself wasn’t the direct cause of death. Instead, it was the lack of immediate first aid by the first responders at the scene—ordinary drivers who, like many, lacked the essential skills to manage such emergencies effectively.
Had this tragic incident occurred within the confines of your work premises, your trained first aiders would have been there to provide the critical care needed to sustain life until paramedics arrived. Your workplace is equipped for this; why, then, are our roads not treated with the same level of urgency and preparedness?
You must report serious workplace accidents under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). However, this incident, occurring away from the direct workplace and involving everyday driving, falls outside these regulations. No official report to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be required, nor will there be any formal inquiry into how you, as an employer, protect your driving employees. Yet, the loss of life is no less significant, and the need for reflection and action is profound.
This situation highlights a critical gap in our approach to driver safety. Drivers, often first at the scene of road accidents, must be equipped with the same life-saving skills as other employees in a conventional workplace. This disparity poses a serious question: why have we failed to extend the same level of care and protection to our driving staff?
The answer isn’t straightforward, but it begins with acknowledgement and action. Employers have a moral and, arguably, a societal duty to ensure that all employees, including those who drive as part of their job, are prepared for such emergencies. Extending first aid training and road safety education to include every driver who may find themselves first at the scene of a road traffic collision is not just beneficial—it’s essential.
The implications of not doing so have been made painfully clear. It’s not just a matter of compliance with health and safety laws; it’s about extending your duty of care to every possible scenario your employees might face. This incident should serve as a wake-up call to all employers that safety training should have no bounds, extending as far as your employees travel.
Reflecting on this, it becomes apparent that creating awareness and pushing for policy changes is crucial. Starting a charity or spearheading a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of equipping all drivers with basic first aid and emergency management skills could be significant. Such initiatives could transform passive bystanders into empowered lifesavers, bridging the gap between workplace safety and road safety.
We must ask ourselves; can we afford to wait for another tragedy to occur before we act? Or will we take proactive steps to ensure that what happens on our roads reflects the safety and care we uphold within our offices, factories, and construction sites?
Every employer must consider these questions—not tomorrow, not after another loss, but now. Because when it comes to life, every second and every decision matters. Let’s make driver safety a priority, not an afterthought.