Risk Assessment

Assessing the risks

Templates booklet - Appendix C to F – Model Risk Assessments
H & S Policies and Procedures, Section 2.1 Risk Assessment

• Your manager will be required to risk assess driving for work activities in their team. It is not necessary to risk assess every driver but each activity type must be covered by a risk assessment and the risks, if any, eliminated if possible. 
• Managers will assist employees to adapt generic risk assessments to make them specific to individuals’ circumstances.
• Managers will encourage staff to mentally risk assess their journeys on a daily basis and to take the appropriate action when and where hazards arise.
• Your line manager will assess whether your driving activity gives you a low or a high-risk rating.
• Employees whose driving activity falls within one or more criteria of the following high-risk rating shall complete a full risk assessment.

1. Routinely carries work colleagues
2. Transports high value or heavy loads
3. Transports service users
4. Drives a fleet vehicle
5. Travels an average of over 500 business miles a month
6. Is required to drive unsociable hours or for emergency purposes.
7. Drivers with 7 or more penalty points on their licence or a period of disqualification

A full risk assessment requires the completion of the following two forms which should be completed on employment and annually thereafter:

Driver Declaration Form

The signature of the form gives authorisation for the Council to check your DVLA record and confirms that you agree to comply with all the requirements of the policy.

You will be asked to produce the originals of the following driving documents and a copy will be taken and kept on your personal file.  This will be requested by your line manager each year:

• Driving licence including photo card and paper counterpart (if applicable)
• Insurance certificate showing that you have business insurance cover.
• Current MOT certificate, if your vehicle is 3 years old or over.

Driver Profile Assessment

This form takes into account a number of personal risk factors that are weighted according to the level of risk they pose. 

• If your personal risk rating is high or an incident record indicates a concern, your Line Manager will discuss appropriate training needs with you and may refer you for a Driver training assessment with the Council provider.
• Training needs must be carried out within 3 months of the need being raised
• Any training needs will be recorded on the Driver Profile Assessment and added to your personal file.