Hundreds of thousands of British Columbians – including many Sunshine Coast residents – drive on the job. They’re in the most dangerous time of year behind the wheel, yet many employers responding to a recent Road Safety at Work survey aren’t aware of that.
Only 39 per cent of BC employers surveyed earlier this year rate driving to be dangerous for their employees when road and weather conditions are poor, according to a media release from Road Safety at Work,a WorkSafeBC-funded Injury Reduction Initiative. Yet November to January is the most dangerous time of the year for the hundreds of thousands of British Columbians who drive for work.
“Driving for work in poor weather conditions is a high-risk activity, no matter how brief the trip is or how much experience the driver has,” stated Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work. “A five-minute trip between worksites or to see a client can easily result in a crash and severe injuries.”
Over the last five years, crashes resulting in injury and time off work during November through January went up by an average of 26 per cent compared with other months, according to WorkSafeBC statistics. Employers are legally responsible for the safety of their workers and contractors when they’re behind the wheel for any work-related reason. This includes driving full time, part time, or occasionally. And the regulations apply to both company vehicles and personal vehicles when used for work.
“The law requires employers to provide their workers with information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure their health and safety,” stated Acres. “You need to make your employees and contractors aware of all known or reasonably foreseeable work-related driving hazards.”
Driving is hazardous, even on short trips and in mild weather. Road Safety at Work manages the annual Shift into Winter campaign. As part of its mandate, the campaign aims to help more employers develop winter driving safety programs and policies.
Road Safety at Work surveyed employers from February 29 to March 15 this year. The accuracy level is +/- 5.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Only 20 per cent of the employers surveyed provide winter driving training to their staff or have policies and resources to help employees decide which roads are safest to take.
“There are a lot of misconceptions around the dangers of driving,” stated Acres.
Some employers, for example, believe that driving isn’t risky because their workers don’t drive often or because they drive in a mild climate; neither is true, according to the release.
“Every time a driver gets behind the wheel, they’re at risk,” added Acres. “It’s not just when there’s snow and ice on the road.”
The critical zone for driving safety falls between 5C and -5C. Even light rain can make roads slippery and reduce visibility. Cooler temperatures can affect vehicle traction.
That’s one of the reasons winter tires are mandatory on many provincial highways as of October 1. Dedicated winter tires with the three-peak mountain and snowflake on the sidewall work better than other tires at temperatures below 7C.
So what can employers do to meet their legal responsibilities and keep employees and contractors safe?
“Prepare for fall and winter conditions now, before the poor weather really hits,” stated Acres.
Some basic steps include:
- Develop a winter driving policy and procedures and review it with all employees who drive on the job.
- Do a risk assessment of driving-related hazards. Make sure employees are aware of them and know how to reduce the risks associated with them.
- Inspect and winterize all work vehicles, making sure they’re equipped with winter tires in good condition and an emergency kit.
- Give drivers a safety orientation on the vehicles they use and training in safe winter driving behaviours.
- Postpone driving or adjust work schedules during poor weather conditions.
- Require drivers to check DriveBC.ca for current road, weather, and traffic conditions before they set out.
- Provide regular driving safety reminders through the end of winter.
“It doesn’t take a lot of time or resources for businesses of any size to do their due diligence and comply with the regulations,” added Acres. “It’s also smart business. Keeping your employees safe can help you avoid staff shortages and increased costs for things like replacement staff and vehicle repair and insurance costs.”
People injured in work-related crashes from 2014 through 2023 were off work on average for 91 days, according to WorkSafeBC. The average cost of a vehicle crash claim was $56,102.
ShiftIntoWinter.ca provides no-cost templates and other resources, including the online course Making Winter Driving Safer For Your Employees. Everyone who completes the course and an exit survey by December 20 will be entered in a draw for a gift certificate for a set of winter tires (value up to $1,000), donated by Kal Tire.
"As winter approaches, it's essential for employers to take proactive measures to protect workers on the road,” stated Todd McDonald, head of prevention services at WorkSafeBC. “Employers can help reduce the risks of winter driving by ensuring vehicles are winter-ready, offering thorough training, establishing clear procedures, and involving workers directly in safety planning.”
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