Policy Key Points
- The policy is designed to minimize vehicle-related incidents, costs, and injuries for Yaskawa associates by promoting awareness of driving risks, ensuring adherence to safe driving practices, and maintaining the road worthiness of all vehicles used for company business. It applies to all associates driving company-owned, personally owned, or rented vehicles for work purposes.
- Key components of the policy include strict compliance with traffic laws, the prohibition of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and the implementation of rigorous safety practices, including regular vehicle maintenance checks and safe driving habits.
- The policy outlines specific responsibilities for managers, supervisors, the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Department, and all driving associates to ensure the safety and compliance of the driving program. Managers and supervisors are tasked with maintaining vehicle safety, recruiting safe drivers, and ensuring drivers complete necessary training. The EHS Department is responsible for developing relevant safety training and monitoring regulatory changes, while all driving associates must keep their licenses and insurance up to date, comply with all road safety rules, and report any incidents or near misses. The policy also details a comprehensive incident reporting and analysis process to be followed in the event of a vehicle-related incident, along with the expectations for regular communication regarding vehicle and driver safety. Additionally, the program includes annual audits to ensure compliance and does not offer individual incentives for safety compliance, but may provide department or team awards for achieving safety milestones.
Policy
Safe Driving
Purpose and Intended Outcomes
The purpose of this policy is to reduce vehicle incident and at-fault work related road collisions injuries and costs. The objectives of this policy are to:
- Make drivers aware of the main risks they face or create when driving for work,
- Ensure that associates who drive vehicles in the course of their work demonstrate safe, efficient driving skills and other good road safety habits at all times, and
- Maintain all company vehicles in a safe, clean, and roadworthy condition and to ensure associates who drive personally owned or rented vehicles for work do the same.
Scope
This policy applies to all associates who drive a company vehicle or a personally owned or rented vehicles as a course of their work. Powered industrial vehicles are covered under the powered industrial vehicle safety policy.
Yaskawa associates shall only operate Class C type vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, pick-up trucks) while performing work for Yaskawa business. The following vehicle types are not permitted for performing company work:
- Class A (combination of class B and C),
- Class B (buses),
- Any class requiring CDL (commercial driver's license),
- Class M (motorcycle or moped)
Safe Driving Policy
Yaskawa is committed to the health and well-being of drivers throughout the company. This policy establishes the expectation that drivers comply with all aspects of Yaskawa’s vehicle safety program, as well as obeying applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations as they relate to vehicle operations. A Yaskawa associate's primary responsibility while driving is the safe operation of the vehicle.
While driving company or personally owned or rented vehicles for work purposes, associates must comply with traffic legislation, be conscious of road safety and demonstrate safe driving and other good road safety habits.
The following actions, while driving for company business, will be viewed as serious breaches of conduct and lead to disciplinary action per Yaskawa’s disciplinary policy up to and including termination:
- Drinking or being under the influence of illicit drugs while driving (illicit/illegal drugs are defined in Yaskawa's Substance Abuse Policy),
- Failing to observe rules of the road for the state/locale in which the driving occurs,
- Driving while disqualified or not correctly licensed,
- Reckless or dangerous driving,
- Failing to stop after a collision,
- Acquiring penalty points leading to suspension of license,
- Failure to obey railroad crossing signals and gates, and
- Any actions that warrant the suspension of a license.
Responsibilities and Driving Safety Rules
Managers and Supervisors:
- Taking the steps to ensure company vehicles are properly maintained to be as safe as possible,
- For positions that require driving for business purposes, recruit and select drivers to ensure safe operation and management of motor vehicles operated on the company's behalf,
- Prohibiting associates to drive under conditions that are unsafe or likely to create an unsafe environment, physical distress, or fatigue,
- Commit to allocating sufficient time and resources required to manage and support the overall driving safety program, and
- Ensuring associates complete driving safety training as assigned.
EHS Department:
- Developing or procuring driving safety training that is relevant and related to historical data, and risk assessments,
- Ensuring all vehicle incidents are properly investigated and corrective actions taken, as applicable,
- Monitor regulatory changes to federal, state, and local regulations to notify affected associates of any policy/procedure changes in a timely manner.
All Associates driving a Company Car or their Personal or Rental Car for Business Purposes
- Ensure they hold a current driver's license and insurance equal or greater than the state's minimum insurance requirements for the category of the vehicle they are driving
- Immediately notifying their supervisor or manager if their driver's license has been suspended or canceled, or has had limitations placed upon it,
- Be responsible and accountable for their actions when operating a company vehicle of driving for the purposes of work,
- Regularly check the oil, tire pressures, radiator, and battery levels of company vehicles they regularly use,
- Comply with the Rules of The Road at all times,
- Assess hazards while driving and anticipate "what-if" scenarios,
- Drive within the legal speed limits, including driving to the conditions,
- Wear a seat belt and make sure all occupants wear their seat belt at all times,
- Only driving when fit to do so - never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medication if they cause drowsiness or other symptoms that may affect their ability to drive safely,
- Avoiding distraction while driving (eg: texting, email)
- Reporting any near misses, crashes and scrapes, including those that do not result in injury,
- Reporting company owned vehicle defects before the next vehicle use,
- Conducting a 360° walk-around to inspect the vehicle prior to movement of the vehicle,
- Never carrying any hazardous substances, and
- Taking regular and adequate rest breaks.
Motor Vehicle Incident Reporting and Analysis
In the event of an incident while driving on company business:
- Apply the parking brake and switch off the engine,
- Switch on the vehicle's hazard warning lights,
- Ensure your own safety first - if in a company vehicle or you have one in your personal car, put on high visibility vest before exiting the vehicle,
- Ensure you and any passengers are safe,
- If the vehicle is on fire or you smell fuel, get yourself and all passengers out immediately,
- Call 911 if any people are injured, if a fire occurs, or other hazardous conditions warrant,
- Help any injured people involved in the incident as you feel capable, comfortable, and as directed by the 911 operator,
- Try to get the following information:
- Details of the other vehicle(s) and registration number(s),
- Name(s) and address(es) of the other vehicle owner(s),
- Take a picture of the other driver's insurance card,
- Names and witnesses of any witnesses.
- If collision with another vehicle, provide the other driver(s) with a copy of your insurance card,
- Take many pictures. Take close up pictures and pictures that capture the entire scene.
- Contact your insurance company as your policy dictates, typically within 24-hours,
- Do not assign or admit fault. This will be determined through the police and insurance company investigations.
- If you damage another vehicle that is unattended, leave a note on the vehicle with your contact details,
- Contact your supervisor or manager.
For vehicle incidents that result in a fatality or hospitalization, Yaskawa shall contact Yaskawa’s insurance company to send an investigator to immediately investigate the scene.
Communications
- Any incident involving a collision, injury, property damage, or near-miss shall be immediately reported to your supervisor. The supervisor shall verify 911(or police if it's a non-emergency) has been contacted as necessary and the associate has notified their insurance company,
- Associate's supervisor shall complete a first report of incident form within 4-hours of notification and send a copy of the report to Human Resources and the EHS Department. The First Report of Incident form is located at www.YaskawaSafety.com.
- Associate shall immediately notify their supervisor if there is any change to their driver's license status that impacts adherence to this policy.
- Associates who travel to or on customer property shall be notified of any safe driving requirements required by the host customer.
Program Audits
The EHS department shall audit compliance with this program annually. Deficiencies shall be documented and corrective actions shall be completed by the relevant parties.
The success of this policy shall be measured by the increase or decrease of:
- The number of collisions involving company owned vehicles or personally owned/rented vehicles used for company business,
- The number of avoidable collisions,
- The number of traffic infringements received,
- The costs of repairs and maintenance,
- Other financial costs associated with vehicle use,
- The average cost of vehicle-related compensation claims.
Incentives
Yaskawa expects all associates to perform their jobs in a way that identifies and controls hazards. Failing to meet this expectation may result in disciplinary action and, more importantly, may lead to serious injury. Therefore, Yaskawa does not provide individualized incentives for meeting this expectation.
However, at the discretion of management, department or team awards may be given for activities such as incident reductions, training completion, or other team achievements based on policy compliance.
Revision History
| Rev # |
Description |
Release Date |
Approved by |
| 0 |
Initial Release |
3/30/2023 |
Thurwanger |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Program Review
| Review Date |
Reviewed by |
Changes Required (Yes/No) |
Revision # if updated |
| 1/16/2024 |
Thurwanger |
No |
|
| 1/21/2025 |
Thurwanger |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
