Accidents involving motor vehicles are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the United States, where more than one in three occupational deaths from 2003 to 2010 involved motor vehicles.

That’s according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which found that each year on average during that period:

• 1,275 workers died from crashes on public highways.
• 311 workers died from off-highway crashes.
• 338 pedestrian workers died after being struck by a motor vehicle.

Behind these numbers are terrible human tragedies—almost all of which could have been prevented.

Human error is often the culprit. People make mistakes while driving that prove deadly.

This risk can be addressed through training to increase safety awareness, followed by constant reinforcement of safety best practices for driving. If a company emphasizes safe driving and makes it a part of the company culture, the chances of a vehicle-related fatality will substantially decrease.

But vehicle failures also sometimes play a role in on-the-job motor vehicle deaths. The brakes fail, a tire blows out, a trailer jackknives—and suddenly even the safest driver is in a life-or-death situation.

That’s why pre-use safety inspections of vehicles (and trailers) are a vital part of reducing occupational motor vehicle deaths. Driving is risky enough without having to worry about a vehicle not being in safe operating condition.

The Consequences of On-the-Job Vehicle Fatalities

On its website, the U.S. Center for Disease Control cites a study that found each occupational fatality from 1998 to 2000 cost businesses more than $500,000 in direct and liability costs. That was almost 15 years ago; I shudder to think what the financial consequences of fatalities are now!

It’s important for businesses to understand that occupational motor vehicle fatalities include deaths involving vehicles driven by people without commercial driver’s licenses. They even include fatal accidents that involve employees’ personal vehicles, if they’re using them for work.

Whenever a vehicle is being used in the operations of a business—no matter who owns it—that business is exposed to liability if an accident occurs involving that vehicle.

And beyond liability issues, there are all the other costs—lost work time, employee replacement, higher workers comp premiums, vehicle damage, etc.

And, of course, the human element is ultimately the most important consideration. Lives are at stake.

Given what’s on the line, asking employees to conduct pre-use inspections before using vehicles for work is a smart and responsible policy. With an easy-to-use inspection checklist such as The Checker, it only takes a short time to ensure that a vehicle is safe to operate.

Requiring vehicle inspections provides protection for the company and for the driver. It also reinforces the safety awareness being emphasized to drivers.

The Bottom Line

Companies can keep their employees safer while driving for business if they implement a program of pre-use vehicle inspections.

Image courtesy of Michael Gil, Creative Commons.