Health Surveillance
Driver’s Fitness for Work
In the UK, vehicles at work contribute significantly to fatal and major injuries. Every year, over 5,000 incidents involve transport in the workplace.
Safety is paramount
As a responsible employer, it’s crucial to ensure that your workers are medically fit to operate vehicles safely.
Prohms offers comprehensive driver fitness assessments to ensure both the physical and mental well-being of drivers.
Driving, whether it’s a forklift, company car, delivery van, or any other vehicle, requires a high level of attention and skill. The simultaneous interaction with the vehicle and the environment demands that the driver is in optimal health. A professional assessment is vital to ensure the safety of the driver and those around them.
Employers have a legal duty under the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations mandate employers to ensure the safety of their employees concerning vehicle use. This includes determining an individual’s medical fitness and abilities.
If your employee’s role requires them to operate any company vehicle, a driver screening medical should be an integral part of your occupational health strategy. This is not just a best practice but a step towards ensuring safety and compliance.
The driver assessment at Prohms is designed to evaluate specific health aspects that might affect the safe operation of vehicles. The assessment includes:
• Vision and Visuospatial Perception: Ensuring adequate vision with or without corrective lenses.
• General Health: Checking physical health factors like blood pressure and assessing other health issues.
• Neurological Health: Evaluating conditions like epilepsy, prior brain surgeries, and memory problems.
• Mental Health: Assessing conditions like depression, dementia, sleep apnea and other psychiatric issues.
• Medication Checks: Some medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, can affect a driver’s ability.
Prohms recommends a fitness to drive assessment every three years. However, assessments should be more frequent based on factors like age, medical condition, or after significant illnesses. It’s essential to ensure that drivers remain fit and safe throughout their employment.
If any abnormalities or concerns arise during the assessment, Prohms will provide guidance on the next steps. The safety of the driver and others is our utmost priority.
Responsibility
Ensuring the fitness of drivers is not just a legal requirement but a moral responsibility. Prohms is dedicated to providing comprehensive driver assessments to ensure the safety of all. Get in touch with our team today to schedule an assessment or to learn more about our services.