To reduce fatal worker injuries related to motor vehicle incidents – the nation’s leading cause of workplace deaths – the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has joined forces with the National Safety Council and the Road to Zero Coalition to help prevent incidents and save lives.
In 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found transportation-related incidents caused 36.8% of the 5,283 fatal work injuries in the U.S., a news release stated.
The initiative aims to reduce and prevent these tragedies by fostering a culture of safety and preventive practices to protect workers on the nation’s roads.
“OSHA wants employers to make safety a core principle by integrating safe driving and transportation practices into their businesses’ safety and health management systems,” the release stated.
“Unlike other workplaces, the roadway is not a closed environment. Preventing work-related roadway incidents requires a combination of traffic safety principles and sound safety management practices,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “By collaborating with the National Safety Council and the Road to Zero Coalition, we can promote safe driving policies to prevent needless tragedies.”
“The most dangerous thing a person can do on the job is get in a vehicle,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO, and chair of the Road to Zero Coalition. “That’s what makes this partnership so critical. By joining Road to Zero, OSHA strengthens our ability to protect workers both on and off the job. Together, we can create safer roads for everyone – whether they are driving for work or sharing the roads with those who do.”
OSHA’s Motor Vehicle Safety webpage offers guidance for employers on developing written policies and procedures for workplace vehicle safety. These include topics such as vehicle maintenance, seat belt use, and preventing distracted, drowsy and impaired driving.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
