The health of a driver can have an impact on their ability to perform their job safely.
Equally, driving for work can have an adverse impact on your employees' health.
Health conditions can be short-term, such as a cold or hay fever.
They can also be much longer-term, and as such, have a bigger impact, such as epilepsy.
Having a health condition does not generally mean that your workers cannot drive for work.
As an employer, you must be aware of any health conditions that could impact the safe use of a vehicle and take steps to manage the risk.
Medication
A worker's fitness to drive can be affected by many factors.
Sometimes it's not the health condition itself but the treatment provided that has an impact on the ability to drive.
For example, using certain medications for hayfever or pain management can cause drowsiness.
Many medicines have a warning not to drive or operate machinery.
Your workers should ask either their GP or pharmacist if there are alternative medicines that might be better when:
- maintaining their concentration
- ability to drive whilst at work
General health
A skilled driver also needs to be physically and mentally healthy in order to be able to drive safely.
Drivers are sometimes unseen in a workplace as they are out on the road, and unfortunately, it is often harder for drivers to:
- access healthy food and drink options
- exercise
- take suitable breaks
Over time, this can have a bad impact on the health of your drivers.
Employers and their workers should work together to promote good physical and emotional health wellbeing amongst drivers.
Notifying the DVLA
Some medical conditions or disability, both physical and mental, are 'notifiable' by the driver to the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
The DVLA sets out the minimum medical standards and rules for drivers, including conditions that must be reported.
It is important that the driver and their employer talk about any health condition that could impact driving, whether they are reportable or not.
You may need to make adjustments to a driver's work activities (short or long term) before a health condition becomes notifiable to the DVLA.
Common health conditions that may have an impact on a worker's ability to drive include:
- colds and flu, hay fever, allergies, etc
- deteriorating eyesight
- migraine headaches
- stress
- back pain, neck stiffness or lower/upper limb problems (known as musculoskeletal problems)
- diabetes
- physical health issues
- epilepsy
- multiple sclerosis
- heart conditions
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not a form of ill health.
A risk assessment during pregnancy, in consultation with the worker, may determine that it is best to alter some job tasks.
Driving may be an activity that is adjusted as the pregnancy progresses.
The driver's other work duties and their position in relation to the steering wheel and airbag should be considered.
It is important that seat belts are worn correctly.
Pregnancy does not exempt women from the requirement to wear a seatbelt.
Driver fitness assessment
Where driving is a significant component of your employee's job role, a driver's health assessment helps to ensure:
- that they are fit for driving
- that any existing health conditions or medications are not likely to put them, their passengers or other road users and pedestrians at risk
A driver's health assessment could be carried out by a health professional and should include (but is not limited to):
- a health questionnaire
- eyesight test
- blood pressure check
- height and weight check
- an audiology hearing test (if indicated)
Some drivers will require more specific driver health assessments as part of their job role, such as an employee who operates:
- a forklift truck
- large goods vehicle (LGV)
- passenger-carrying vehicle (PCV)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provide information for medical professionals on medical standards for drivers at work.