Welcome to ScORSA
'Managing Occupational Road Safety: an Opportunity for your Business'
Find out more about the Driving Risks at Work Toolkit
Driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people do, and very few organisations operate without using motor vehicles.
Millions of people use the road in order to do their job, and in doing so, they both face, and create, risks. They drive or ride an enormous variety of vehicles, including cars, vans, lorries, taxis, emergency service vehicles, buses and minibuses, coaches, and motorcycles in order to carry out their duties. Some people ride pedal cycles, or work on foot (for example, postal workers, maintenance workers, refuse collectors, vehicle breakdown employees, the police and so on) on the road as part of their jobs. They all share the road with members of the public.
Therefore, UK law requires employers to treat driving, riding or otherwise using the road for work, the same as any other health and safety risk. They must conduct suitable risk assessments and take all "reasonably practicable measures" to manage the risks.
This website provides information, advice and free resources to help employers to understand and manage the risks faced, and created, by their staff when they use the road as part of their work. It also provides advice and resources to help individuals who use the road as part of their job.
As an employer, whether a large or small, private or public business, you should seek to develop a systematic approach to managing occupational road risk appropriate to your business. By doing so you can achieve the following benefits for your business:
- Reduce the number of accidents and injuries
- Comply with legal duties
- Avoid spiralling insurance costs
- Improve staff morale through making them safer drivers
- Enhance your company's reputation
The Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ScORSA) was created to provide free information and support to assist Small and Medium Sized businesses to raise awareness of managing occupational road risk.
Why not take a moment to evaluate how you are currently managing occupational road risk by considering the following questions:
- Do any of your staff drive for work?
- Do you know the range of vehicles driven for work purposes?
- Do you know how many miles your employees drive each year for work purposes?
- Are your work's vehicles being damaged whilst in use?
- Do they use bicycles or motorcycles?
If you answer yes to any of the above you need to:
- Develop a short statement about your organisation's approach to occupational road safety. This document is freely available to download to organisations that sign up to the ScORSA Statement.
- Communicate it to your employees.
- Issue a driver's handbook. A driver's handbook is freely available to download to organisations that sign up to the ScORSA Statement.
- Cover any issues regarding grey fleet (own vehicle use by employees). A manager's guide and company policy are freely available to download to organisations that sign up to the ScORSA Statement.
Join ScORSA to gain access to these and other unique resources that can be tailored to your company.
Joining ScORSA is Free. Joining ScORSA means signing up to the ScORSA Statement to commit your business to achieving a cycle of continuous improvement in 'driving for work' performance, ensuring that this approach is underpinned by a proactive safety culture led by senior managers with full worker involvement. If you're interested in becoming a member of ScORSA, click on the Join ScORSA button and complete the joining questionnaire or contact ScORSA for further information at: info@scorsa.org.uk.
You can also take advantage of free support and advice, to help you develop policies and procedures, offered by the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives and by Road Safety Officers.