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Example risk assessment for drivers at a private hire operator and radio circuits

Important reminder

This example risk assessment shows the kind of approach a small business might take. It can be used as a guide to think through some of the hazards in your business and the steps you need to take to control the risks. Please note that it is not a generic risk assessment that you can just put your company name on and adopt wholesale without any thought. This would not satisfy the law - and would not be effective in protecting people.

Every business is different - you need to think through the hazards and controls required in your business for yourself.

Setting the scene

Smith’s Cars and Couriers provide private car hire services to corporate, public and private customers. These services include airport transfer, chauffeur driven executive cars, school transport, couriers, minicabs and stretch limousines for parties, etc. The company operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.The company employs nine office staff, as telephonists, administrators and dispatchers, working a variety of shifts. It also employs five people who drive, clean and valet the vehicles owned by the company. These drivers do the corporate and contract jobs.

The company minicab service has 70 drivers on the books who are self-employed and use and maintain their own vehicles. These drivers are responsible for their own employment, including the hours that they work and their financial and tax arrangements. They are also responsible for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work.

The manager did the risk assessment for the company. For the risks to office staff, HSE’s example risk assessment for an office was used as a guide.The manager also did the risk assessment  for the drivers employed by the company. Although not responsible for the self-employed drivers, the manager decided that there were sound legal and business reasons for making them aware of this risk assessment and encouraging them to manage risks effectively. Copies of the risk assessment were available to the self-employed drivers to encourage them to look after their own health and safety, and to give them information about how they could do so.

How was the general risk assessment done?

The manager followed the guidance in 'Five steps to risk assessment'.

  1. To identify the hazards, the manager:
    • Looked at HSE’s small businesses web pages for free health and safety advice. Also at the web pages on work related road safety and work related violence;
    • Used his knowledge and experience to consider the risks that drivers will be exposed to, taking into consideration HSE’s guidance; and
    • Talked to drivers to learn from their knowledge and experience, and listen to their concerns about health and safety issues.
  2. The manager then wrote down who could be harmed by the hazards and how.
  3. For each hazard, wrote down what controls, if any, were in place to manage these hazards. These controls were then compared to the guidance provided on HSE’s website. Where existing controls were not considered good enough, the manager wrote down what else was needed to control the risk.
  4. The manager wrote down when the actions that were needed would be done and who would do them. Each action was then ticked off as it was completed. The findings were discussed with the five ‘company drivers’, the risk assessment was displayed at the tea point and made part of the induction process for new staff.
  5. The manager decided to review and update the risk assessment every year or straightaway if any major changes in the workplace happened.