En route to safer logistics

In addition is its believed that 40% to 85% of pre-hospital fatalities are due to airway obstruction – which can occur in about four minutes, while the target time of an ambulance to arrive on scene is currently 8 minutes. Distressing facts to contemplate.

One company that has recognised the importance of reducing casualties on the road is Clugston Distribution, the logistics arm of the Clugston Group, by actively supporting the Driver First Assist (DFA) initiative. 

The company, which is already committed to maintaining the highest levels of health and safety, is already certified with the international OLHSAS 18001 standard has been an advocate of the scheme from the start. 

The DFA is a not for profit organisation comprising drivers who have been trained to provide life saving first aid and manage the scene at a road traffic collision (RTC), prior to the arrival of the emergency services.

Head of logistics David Heath recently gave a short presentation on the company’s involvement in the DFA initiative at a select Parliamentary reception at the House of Commons, where he discussed the importance of enhancing driver skills and the value in educating drivers on how to react correctly at a road traffic accident.  

Heath explains: “Road traffic collisions are a tragic reality of driving and something our fleet can come across on a daily basis. The Clugston Distribution drivers alone cover nearly 7 million miles a year on UK roads so the more of my drivers I train the more chance we have of positive intervention using the Driver First Assist training. The Driver First Assist initiative is there for when sadly the worst does happen and we believe that having a skilled army of DFA-trained individuals on the road network will improve road safety as well as accident clearance times, for all road users.”

Currently 31 of Clugston Distribution’s employees have already taken part in the DFA basic life saving tools training needed during a road traffic accident, with the company committed to training at least another 12 drivers before Autumn 2015.  

An additional benefit of the DFA initiative is that drivers who train as safety advisers tend to become safer themselves according to the Health and Safety Executive, which will not only create a safer environment on today’s roads on the whole but also places the logistics sector in a more positive light.

An additional commitment by Clugston Distribution is funding the cost of putting one of their curtain sided trailers into full DFA livery. The liveried trailer, which delivers throughout the UK, is highly visible and will hopefully encourage more companies in the logistics sector to take an active role in such a worthy cause.

Clugston Distribution is part of the Clugston Group of companies and offers UK wide quality driven supply chain solutions, including specialist distribution, storage and inventory management for general haulage, cementitious powder, bulk liquid fuels and bulk food ingredients. Based near the Humber, and close to the motorway network, the company is able to offer a full or part load delivery service within 24 hours to all destinations on the United Kingdom mainland.

In addition the clear-up of accidents would be quicker, getting all road users on their way far quicker. When asked “If those who have completed the DFA course are able to help open roads quicker and reduce delays, would you consider taking the training course to be a DFA member?” 76 per cent of companies polled said yes.

Driver First Assist founder David Higginbottom says: “Being delayed due to a road accident is stressful for everyone involved, not least for those drivers who have delivery targets to meet. But the good news is that better collision management in the first minutes after a crash can reduce deaths and serious injuries, as well as get everybody back on their way quicker.

“It is positive to see how many respondents recognised the benefits of training to be better able to respond to the scene of an accident and I would like to invite every operator, small or large, to put a representative forward for a free training course, to realise the benefits for themselves.”