Causes and Solutions of FleetCauses and Solutions of FleetSafety AccidentsSafety Accidents

Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

Vehicle AccidentsVehicle Accidents StatisticsStatistics Costs of AccidentsCosts of Accidents RecommendationsRecommendations

Vehicle AccidentsVehicle Accidents

Overloaded Overloaded VehiclesVehicles

Rear End Rear End CollisionsCollisions

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving

Overloaded VehicleOverloaded Vehicle

A worker was fatally injured when the truck he A worker was fatally injured when the truck he was operating rolled backward. The trailer's was operating rolled backward. The trailer's brakes failed. The vehicle was loaded greatly over brakes failed. The vehicle was loaded greatly over design weight.design weight.

A worker was fatally injured due to injuries A worker was fatally injured due to injuries suffered in the crash of a truck. The truck was suffered in the crash of a truck. The truck was overloaded and the brakes failed.overloaded and the brakes failed.

source:source:OSHA accident reportsOSHA accident reports

www.osha.gov www.osha.gov

Rear End CollisionsRear End Collisions

Second-most frequent accidentSecond-most frequent accident

Makes up 17% of all claimsMakes up 17% of all claims

Over $13,000 per claimOver $13,000 per claim

source:source:

Risk Management News, Vol. 1, Issue 2Risk Management News, Vol. 1, Issue 2National Electrical Contractors AssociationNational Electrical Contractors Association

(NECA)(NECA)

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving A driver was on his phone while driving. He did A driver was on his phone while driving. He did

not notice the stop sign he was approaching. As not notice the stop sign he was approaching. As he went through the stop sign, a motorist driving he went through the stop sign, a motorist driving by slammed into the truck and was killed.by slammed into the truck and was killed.

Three employees were riding on a steep Three employees were riding on a steep temporary road. One of the passengers asked the temporary road. One of the passengers asked the driver if he was on 4 "low”. He looked down to driver if he was on 4 "low”. He looked down to check. The moment he took his eyes off the road, check. The moment he took his eyes off the road, the truck rolled off the side of the road and the truck rolled off the side of the road and overturned. The employee closest to the overturned. The employee closest to the passenger door was killed.passenger door was killed.

sources:sources:Risk Control Services, CNARisk Control Services, CNA

OSHA accident reports (OSHA accident reports (www.osha.govwww.osha.gov))

Accident SummaryAccident Summary Rear End Collisions are more likely whenRear End Collisions are more likely when

1.1. Vehicles are overloadedVehicles are overloaded

2.2. Workers follow vehicles in front of them too Workers follow vehicles in front of them too closely.closely.

Distractions increase the likelihood of Distractions increase the likelihood of getting in an accident.getting in an accident.

Accident Summary Accident Summary (continued)(continued)

Distractions include:Distractions include: Reaching/looking for items in the carReaching/looking for items in the car Things, events outside of the car/rubberneckingThings, events outside of the car/rubbernecking Cell phonesCell phones Adjusting the radioAdjusting the radio EatingEating GroomingGrooming Children and petsChildren and pets

StatisticsStatistics

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving Rear End CollisionRear End Collision

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving

Inattention to driving: #1 cause of accidents in Inattention to driving: #1 cause of accidents in AmericaAmerica

Drivers who use cell phones are four times more Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a motor vehicle collision.likely to be in a motor vehicle collision.

Sources:Sources:Risk Control Services, CNARisk Control Services, CNA

New England Journal of Medicine, February 13, 1997New England Journal of Medicine, February 13, 1997

Rear End CollisionsRear End Collisions Account for one-sixth of all automobile claimsAccount for one-sixth of all automobile claims

Account for 38% of the dollars paid for all Account for 38% of the dollars paid for all automobile claimsautomobile claims

Sources:Sources: Risk Management News, Vol. 1, Issue 2 Risk Management News, Vol. 1, Issue 2

National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)Graph:Graph:

Continental Casualty CompanyContinental Casualty Company

Summary of StatisticsSummary of Statistics

Distracted driving causes more accidents than Distracted driving causes more accidents than any other factor.any other factor.

Rear end collisions are the single most common Rear end collisions are the single most common accident type. accident type.

Costs of AccidentsCosts of Accidents

Costs of AccidentsCosts of AccidentsVehicle accidents cost more than just the price of Vehicle accidents cost more than just the price of

repairing the damaged vehicle:repairing the damaged vehicle:

1.1. Claims for damages to vehicles and property, injuries to Claims for damages to vehicles and property, injuries to motorists and passengersmotorists and passengers

2.2. Workers Compensation claimsWorkers Compensation claims

3.3. General Liability claimsGeneral Liability claims

4.4. Damage to transported materials and equipmentDamage to transported materials and equipment

5.5. Negligent Entrustment lawsuits and punitive damagesNegligent Entrustment lawsuits and punitive damages

RecommendationsRecommendations

What Employees Should DoWhat Employees Should Do What Employers Should DoWhat Employers Should Do

What Employees Should DoWhat Employees Should Do Stay at or under the speed limit, especially in Stay at or under the speed limit, especially in

construction zones.construction zones.

Leave a long following distance between you and the Leave a long following distance between you and the car in front of you, especially if there are heavy car in front of you, especially if there are heavy materials in the vehicle. There should be ample time materials in the vehicle. There should be ample time to apply the brakes and come to a complete stop.to apply the brakes and come to a complete stop.

Do not drive while fatigued or intoxicated, and don’t Do not drive while fatigued or intoxicated, and don’t engage in distracting activities, such as using a cell engage in distracting activities, such as using a cell phone.phone.

Use safety belts. Limit the number of passengers in Use safety belts. Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle to the number of safety belts availablethe vehicle to the number of safety belts available

Participate in your company’s vehicle training Participate in your company’s vehicle training program.program.

Source:Source:National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

www.cdc.gov/niosh/www.cdc.gov/niosh/

What Employers Should DoWhat Employers Should Do Conduct driver’s license background checks on Conduct driver’s license background checks on

prospective drivers before they are hired.prospective drivers before they are hired.

Establish a written policy requiring drivers and Establish a written policy requiring drivers and passengers to use seat belts at all times. Make sure passengers to use seat belts at all times. Make sure that employees are aware of and comply with this that employees are aware of and comply with this written policy.written policy.

Train drivers in safe driving practices and proper Train drivers in safe driving practices and proper use of vehicle safety features. Make sure that this use of vehicle safety features. Make sure that this training is performance-based and periodically training is performance-based and periodically repeated.repeated.

Maintain brakes and other safety systems on Maintain brakes and other safety systems on vehicles.vehicles.

Source:Source:National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

www.cdc.gov/niosh/www.cdc.gov/niosh/

Summary of RecommendationsSummary of Recommendations Employees and Employers working together Employees and Employers working together

increase the safety of the work site.increase the safety of the work site.

Obey the laws of the road to decrease risk of Obey the laws of the road to decrease risk of accident and increase safety.accident and increase safety.

Participate in training to increase awareness of Participate in training to increase awareness of vehicle safety.vehicle safety.

The EndThe End