NRSPP Case Study: Victorian transport logistics company: Impatient drivers, distracted pedestrians, e-rideables and nightclub patrons: managing the risk of delivery all in a day’s work
Synopsis
All transport operators face risks and challenges in getting the job done, safely and efficiently. For one Victorian transport logistics company, the breadth of the freight task and their customer base creates a long list of hazards to negotiate, from distracted pedestrians and chaotic supermarket carparks to peak hour-traffic and late-night revellers. Its ‘problem solving’ mentality has been central to keeping its drivers safe and its clients happy.
Key Outcomes
- Many workplace road safety risks are shared but some can be specific to your operation, so putting processes in place to identify and reduce specific hazards can help eliminate or reduce risk
- Communicating the risk and sharing information with drivers and across the company in how to manage it is critical; informal communications must be encouraged by management and supported by formal processes
- Creating a strong safety culture requires a visible and sustained involvement from company ownership and management, supported by resourcing safety measures to minimise risk and maximise safety performance
- Strong safety performance minimises or eliminates incidents and lost time to injuries, improving company productivity; it is also an expectation of modern clients and regulators
- Effective driver training ensures drivers operate to a high safety standard and can be a valuable tool in identifying and addressing gaps in knowledge
- Enlist the support of others with a mutual interest in solving safety problems and reducing risk; in this case, an efficient and safe delivery is as much in the interests of the receiver of the goods as the transport company
- Prioritising visual communication and adding an element of ‘competition’ between teams or depots can drive engagement with safety measures.
