Taking Precautionary Measures When Delivering or Operating Plant Machinery in Extreme Weather Conditions

The autumn and winter months can produce some extreme weather conditions which make driving more difficult, and at times, highly dangerous. This poses numerous risks when driving or delivering plant machinery.

Heavy rains can cause aquaplaning and skidding, while surface water can disguise the actual depth of flooded areas. Both can result in vehicle damage and injury or on occasion, even death. Fog, ice and heavy snow can greatly reduce visibility and make road surfaces slippery or difficult to transverse. With shorter daylight hours during this time more driving is done in the dark — which has its own difficulties including the capacity to tire drivers more quickly.

Help Protect Your Staff

Help protect your staff from the extra dangers adverse weather can bring, whether it’s machinery or company vehicles, by ensuring the following:

• That all vehicles have regular maintenance checks and some simple pre-driving checks before every use.
• Journeys — particularly long ones — are well planned in advance.
• Drivers are aware of the necessity to suitably adapt their driving behaviour during periods of adverse weather.
• All vehicles are covered are included on your motor fleet policy and the equipment is included on your plant and machinery insurance in case an accident occurs.

Find out more about Hire Company insurance here.
TALK TO INSURANCE4PLANT ABOUT MOTOR FLEET AND PLANT MACHINERY INSURANCE

Ensure You Carry Out Regular Checks

To avoid the potential for breakdowns and ensure as many trouble-free journeys as possible during periods of wet and cold weather conditions, it is essential to ensure vehicles are properly maintained and that time is spent in regularly carrying out some basic checks. This includes checking the brakes, the most important safety feature of any car. Keep an eye on wear rates — especially when grip could be at its lowest in winter.
According to the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), 28% of breakdown issues are battery related. So, it makes sense to keep it regularly maintained, charged and in good health.

Changing Driving Behaviours

Driving in poor weather conditions, especially those that winter tends to throw at us, requires a change in driving behaviours in order to keep both drivers, and others on the road, safe.
Safe driving needs good reactions and concentration, even more so with the added dangers of driving in winter weather.

• Speed: Stopping distances can be 10 times longer when it’s icy. Gentle manoeuvres and slow speeds are therefore key to staying safe on winter roads.
• Reaction Times: Good reactions are all important when driving in poor weather conditions. In the seasons for colds and flu, driving ability can be affected if a driver is feeling unwell. Cold-related medicines can also make drivers drowsy and affect their reaction times. Driving when unwell should, therefore, be avoided if at all possible.
• Distractions: Distractions can inevitably make a driver less observant and more likely to fail to anticipate the hazards around them. While it is difficult to obtain accurate data on the impact of distraction on road accidents, it is believed that over 70% of crashes and 65% of near crashes had inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. Such distractions include use of mobile phones, consulting satellite navigation and listening to infotainment systems.

Responsibilities As An Employer

British weather is unpredictable. Bad weather can strike suddenly so the best advice when severe weather hits is to stay off the road. If a journey is necessary, your drivers should plan and be prepared with such conditions in mind.
As an employer, you need to ensure your drivers understand this. Consider the best way to disseminate advice and guidance for safe driving in winter weather to staff, such as including guidance in your Drivers’ Handbook and Driving Policy.

Get Motor Fleet, Construction and Plant Insurance from Insurance4plant

While adopting safe practices when operating or driving machinery in the winter months is advisable, it is vital you take out insurance to cover yourself in the unfortunate event of an accident. Speak to our specialist insurance brokers to discuss bespoke annual or short term plant insurance packages for your business.

The process is quick and simple, quotations and cover can be purchased through the www.insurance4plant.co.uk website with cover and policy documentation issued immediately.

Insurance4plant covers under the facility include:

• Insurance4plant Combined Policy
• Insurance4plant Short Term
• Insurance4plant Contractors Plant Policy
• Management Liability
• Motor Fleet Policy
• Professional Indemnity
• Cyber

Contact the team today

Insurance4plant typically work with the following types of businesses:

• Tool Hire
• Plant Hire
• Traffic Management
• Crane Hire & Contract Lifting Companies

ENQUIRE ABOUT AN ANNUAL POLICY TODAY