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ONTROIS HE ;AFETY iNGLE

3rd June 1966, Page 107
3rd June 1966
Page 107
Page 108
Page 109
Page 107, 3rd June 1966 — ONTROIS HE ;AFETY iNGLE
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ODAY the tide of change is running strongly in the matter of staff relations and efficient managements are ever on the alert methods that will enable them to produce positive results withundue fear of a clash with their workers. In many road transorganizations the creation of an atmosphere in which thought safety is the natural thing has proved to be a delicate operation in certain fleets, notably that of the Ministry of Public Building Works, the institution of a "jury" system has enabled justice be done to all parties without any hard feelings arising. The tistry was early in the field with this system and was undoubty among its pioneers. In general the more dispersed a fleet the greater the problem of controlling maintenance costs and of achieving a consistent safety record. These are two aspects on which Government departments are especially sensitive, a fact that may well have led to the present approach of the MPBW to positive accident avoidance, and to the creation of an attitude of mind on the part of the staff diametrically opposed to that of those drivers who are imbued with the idea that "it's bound to happen in the end".

Although the fact is unsuspected by many members of the outside world, the Ministry of Public Building and Works has a complex transport task and this may best be illustrated by quoting the situation in the North Eastern Region, although in fact the methods used are regular practice in all eight regions in England, as well as in Scotland and Wales. A salient point is that all the Ministry's professional drivers are encouraged to enter the RoSPA National Safe Driving Competition and the LDOY contest.

As is generally known, an essential qualification for these competitions is freedom from blameworthy accidents. And this matter of freedom from blameworthiness, or otherwise, is liable to be a sore point in some road transport organizations. In MPBW circles, however, disputes on this score are a rarity for all decisions on drivers' responsibility for accidents are made by a panel of three. Whilst an aggrieved driver can still appeal to the regional administration officer and, if he desires, can be accompanied to the hearing by a shop steward, the influence of this form of jury system is obviously great and it has been found to obviate the entry of personal animosities into fleet working.

Encouragement of a proper pride in driving success does not end with the transport section of the Ministry. In the North Eastern Region every driver obtaining a RoSPA safe driving award receives a personal letter from the Director of the Region. Mr. A. Abbott, a class winner on more than one occasion in the eliminating rounds of the Lorry Driver of the Year competition, has received a personal letter of commendation from the Minister of Public Building and Works.

In the North East the trio who adjudicate on the accident reports comprise Mr. E. R. Lunn, the vehicle maintenance officer, Mr. A. Porteous, regional transport officer, and Miss H. Collison, section leader of the Government Car Service. 'Miss Collison has had lengthy experience in the driving of official vehicles and, in fact, holders of this appointment have always risen from the driver level. The panel's sole function is to assess accident responsibility and should they encounter difficulty in reaching a decision in respect of a commercial vehicle driver they may call in the chargehand driver to assist in their deliberations.

Reference has been made earlier to the variety of responsibilities undertaken by the MPBW, and to the experienced eye details of the fleet will provide a good general indication of the diversity of the task. From the Leeds depot the transport section directly operates six BMC 5-ton vans, one Bedford 4-ton van, two 30-cwt. Commer vans (one a Walk-Thru and the other a Super Capacity model), also two Bedford TK trucks, one a 7-tonner and the other a 5-tonner. From Wallsend-on-Tyne they operate three BMC vans (two 7-tonners and one 5-tonner), two 30-cwt. Conners similar to those at Leeds, and a Bedford TK 5-ton truck. For the Government Car Service there are 27 assorted cars divided between six pools within the region.

The vast majority of the units, however, are held for allocation to the'various Works Division depots, these including 57 LandRovers, some Austin Gypsies, a .Karrier refuse collector, a Bedford 30-seater coach and a Snow Trak, with the addition of more workaday vehicles such as Karrier Bantam tippers, Morris J2 vans with side windows and seats, Morris J2 Pickups, Bedford CA vans (some with windows and some with seat conversions), Bedford tippers and trucks, Morris Minor Travellers, Mini Travellers, Mini vans and saloons, Hillman Huskies, Standard Ensign Travellers and Morris 3-ton trucks, the fleet in all numbering well over 300.

As a section of a government department the North Eastern :gion is extremely cost conscious and it is contended, quite isonably, that apart from its intrinsic excellence fleet safety ys dividends. The MPBW, as government transport users, rry their own insurance and the Claims Commission require a )ort on every accident. But in addition to minimizing the number major claims, says Mr. Lunn, a system that maintains the ivers' consciousness of accident potential has been found to Are an important influence on minor scrapes that in these days ,ve an uncanny way of resulting in heavy charges.

Members of the staff with whom I discussed the whole system )viously regarded the method as fair and one which avoids the :rsonal reactions that may arise when one individual has the itire responsibility for assessing blame. Checking on the activi:s of the 300-plus drivers over a selected period I observed that ) accident reports had been rendered, and out of that number e MPBW driver was regarded as blameworthy in 22 instances. some cases men defended themselves on the grounds that a :hide was defective in some way but since every log sheet corporates a defects panel there can be little excuse for anyone inning into trouble on this score.

In all this work the region aims to increase the individual river's pride in his job and with that to develop its prestige. The Let that the men are invited to support the Lorry Driver of the ear competition has already been mentioned. Although they are ever pressed to enter there has been a steady increase in the iterest taken in the competition and, so that potential competi)rs shall have every opportunity of following the fortunes of lose taking part, reports and results from COMMERCIAL MOTOR re regularly posted in the drivers' rest rooms.


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