Work Related Traffic Fatalities Increase by 18%

In the latest figures looking at health and safety at work, road traffic incidents are the only cause of death for workers which increased in 2016, with 18% more fatalities than in 2015.

Of the 555,000 work-related incidents that occurred in 2016 in Spain, 63,400 of them were road traffic related, according to data from the National Institute of Health and Hygiene at Work (INSHT), an increase of 8% over the previous year. The data show that one in every three fatal incidents in the workplace were road traffic related, with a total of 204 people losing their lives, which means that 11.4% of occupational incidents cause 33.6% of the deaths, a very high mortality rate.

If we analyse the evolution by type of traffic incident, the deadly fatalities during the working day went from 72 in 2015 to 86 in 2016, which is 19% more. In total, 42% of fatal incidents occurred during the working day, and 58% on the way to work or back home.

Reducing occupational incidents in general, and traffic-related in particular is a task that involves the company, institutions and the workers themselves, with better training and information as the main axis of preventive policy. Currently, companies have a plan for the prevention of occupational risks for their employees, where they define their functions and the risks to which they are exposed within the performance of them. However, workers’ accidents are not only found in the workplace, but also in other areas, such as when the worker moves with his or her vehicle during the working day, and other times also linked to our professional activity,

In order to deal with these figures, RACE proposes that companies act from different fields, for example, by implementing mobility plans that take into account the state of employee mobility, workers’ itineraries and weak points on the safety of journeys.

These types of plans allow companies to know the mobility and risks of their workers, and that they implement the necessary tools for different specific corrective measures, aimed at reducing incidents.

To reduce this risk, RACE has launched a decalogue with advice for companies, workers and institutions so that, among all, we can increase prevention and reduce traffic incidents.

Decalogue to improve road safety for workers

Measures for the company

1. As a starting point, analyse the real mobility of its workers, their movements, travel times and major road problems.
2. There must be a commitment of the highest officials in the improvement of road safety for workers, including this new concept in the pillars of the corporate culture of the company.
3. Define the road risks of each worker according to the performance of their professional activity, with measures aimed both at the prevention of incidents during the working day and in commuting.
4. The company must put in place corrective measures, including a policy of continuous training, minimum levels of safety in corporate vehicles, and planning of working days involving road journeys.
5. Encourage respect for compliance with traffic regulations, especially on issues such as distractions, fatigue, driving times or route planning.

For employees

6. Employees must commit to the fulfilment of the knowledge provided by the formation of the company to prevent road risks.
7. They should plan their trips before starting them, consulting possible problems that may be found on long journeys as in every day (congestion, weather conditions, etc.)
8. Workers should be responsible for the mechanical maintenance of the vehicle they use, especially the condition of the tyres, lights and fluid levels.
9. A worker behind the wheel must maintain the necessary attention to traffic and traffic conditions, avoiding other non-driving activities.

For public administrations

10. Encourage the implementation of Mobility and Road Training Plans in companies through fiscal aid and course funding.