Safety management for the occupational driver: the conceptual development of a program

Road traffic injury is the leading cause of work-related death in Australia. Despite this, limited attention has been given to preventive strategies. A safe driving environment at work not only depends on individual compliance with safe driving practices but on all individuals anticipating threats to safety, showing concern for the safety of others, and contributing to safety improvements in the organisation. In particular, workgroup supervisors (those who monitor and regulate drivers in their performance of assigned tasks, both driving and non-driving related) play a pivotal role in creating a safe work environment. For example, a supervisor showing concern for a driver through increased safety-related discussions has been associated with safer driving behaviour by the employee. This presentation will describe the role of the supervisor in the safety management of work-related drivers and the development of a program (ie., Safety Management for the Occupational Driver) that aims to develop the skills of supervisors in identifying situations in which their drivers may be at risk on the road (e.g., drivers are tired, stressed, under pressure to meet deadlines) and to manage these situations effectively.