Cheap at the price
Page 9
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When you consider that the average cost of a single road accident is estimated at f947,37o, what would you pay to prevent one? £500? £5,00o? How about 7op a day? That's how much it costs to get your fitters and vehicle service engineers "licensed" under the IRTEC scheme. From October, the LI8o (ex-VAT) scheme will be expanded from the PSV sector to include HGV fitters working on vehicles from 7.5 tonnes upwards (see story, p8 for details).
This is a practicable way to ensure that your fitters really do know the difference between a roadworthy vehicle and an accident waiting to happen.
Too expensive? Remember if someone dies and you are found to be grossly negligent in not exercising your "Duty of Care" as a truck operator, penalties range up to unlimited fines and life imprisonment. And under the forthcoming Corporate Homicide Bill the rules for prosecution will include conduct falling below what can "reasonably be expected" with regard to protecting the health and safety of employees and others affected by your activities.
Considering that a fatal accident could cost you your business and your freedom, 70p doesn't sound like much to us. Does it still sound expensive to you?
• If Eurotunnel fights as tough as it talks, the whole question of stowaway penalties may be reviewed (see news story on this page). Potential fines of more than II= a year should certainly motivate the company to fight this one hard. Let's hope it wins through, because hauliers can only benefit if a court case finally forces the government to return responsibility for immigration matters to immigration officials.