Driving Safety
Personal safety while driving requires compliance with the following elements.
Vehicle Requirements
- The vehicle shall be fit for the purpose, and shall be maintained in safe working order, with seatbelts installed and functional.
- The number of passengers shall not exceed the manufacturer's specification for the vehicle.
- Loads shall be secure and shall not exceed the manufacturer's specification and legal limits for the vehicle.
Driver and Passenger Requirements
- Drivers shall be appropriately assessed, licensed, trained, and medically fit to operate the vehicle.
- Drivers shall be appropriately rested and alert.
- Drivers shall not use a mobile phone or other two-way communication device while operating the vehicle.
- In specific higher-risk countries, the risks of the journey shall be assessed and a journey risk management policy and plan shall be in place.
- Seatbelts shall be worn by all occupants at all times whenever a vehicle is in motion.
- Drivers shall not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or any other substance or medication that could impair their ability to drive.
Driving Hours
The following minimum requirements for driving hours shall apply to AWP Marine Consultancy Ltd employees and contractors on company business. Applicable legislated working and driving hours may be used if they are considered equivalent to or better than these minimum requirements.
Maximum driving time within a 24-hour period should be 10 hours, with regular breaks (recommended every 2 hours) for long periods of driving.
Night time driving shall be minimised, and alternative means of travel or a period of rest should be taken rather than driving through the evening. This is especially relevant in countries where poor road maintenance and lighting are prevalent.
Rest Requirements
AWP staff shall plan their workload with due regard to location and anticipated travel time, to ensure that they are not working excessive hours to cover back to back inspections.
As a rule, an inspector (contractor or employee) shall not undertake more than 2 consecutive back to back inspections unless they are in the same location. Where this becomes unavoidable, the inspector is to liaise with the AWP office to ensure that adequate rest is taken after the inspection before onward travel to the next appointment.
AWP office schedulers must consider rest hour requirements when scheduling inspections and, where necessary, reallocate an inspection where adequate rest cannot be guaranteed.
Consideration shall be taken for working no more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period and no more than 22 hours in any 48-hour period.
Whenever there is doubt or concern regarding the rest of an employee or consultant, the AWP office shall be consulted and every effort shall be made to ensure suitable rest is taken.