| ChevronTexaco – Driving Accident Rates Down |
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ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants (trading as Texaco in the UK and Ireland), has very high MVC exposure due to the large number of employees driving high mileage on Company business. Those driving more than 18,000 miles annually have been identified as high exposure / risk drivers. Other areas of high MVC exposure include contracted transport of finished product and fork truck operation, combined they represent a high risk for the potential loss of human life and injury. Since January 2002 ChevronTexaco has monitored MVCs closely, Company employees have driven over 9.9 million miles (15.9 million kms) and the Motor Vehicle Crash rate has dropped from 2 to 1.24 per million miles which is still unacceptable – the Company’s goal is for everyone to commit to "no accidents, no incidents" with zero being attainable. Whilst every employee is encouraged to take ownership for their own safety, ChevronTexaco recognises it has much to do to increase awareness, reduce risk and improve motor vehicle safety: Therefore, from 2003 and beyond motor vehicle safety within ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants is an imperative objective. That objective is to achieve ZERO fatalities from MVCs and reduce "at speed" MVCs by 50 % by the end of 2004: "at speed" being any crash in excess of 12 mph (20 km / hour). To achieve this, ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants is changing the way they do business in three fundamental ways. First, all drivers will train in defensive driving techniques, using risk management to identify and prioritise training requirements for all high exposure drivers. Second, they will perform biannual medical evaluations of the "fitness to drive" for all high exposure drivers. Lastly, they will deploy "Rules of the Road" and journey planning initiatives to maximise good driving behaviour and vehicle visibility. ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants’ management is committed to determine the true root cause and potential corrective actions to all MVCs. Champions are being assigned to lead localised deployment by country with standards organised operationally as below: ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants Standards Deployment Passenger Motor Vehicle Safety - Owner Sales and Marketing and applicable to all Company car drivers and employees driving business mileage. Road Transportation Safety – Owner Supply, Manufacturing and Distribution and applicable to the movement and shipping of Company goods and products by own and contracted transport. Powered Industrial Motor Vehicles (Fork-lift trucks, mobile equipment, etc) - Owner Supply, Manufacturing and Distribution and applicable to all powered vehicles utilised on Company manufacturing, storage and distribution sites. Key Standards Requirements 1) Define and identify high exposure / risk drivers 2) Implement driver training and medical monitoring 3) Introduce "Rules of the Road" as a Company driving mindset 4) Establish vehicle selection, inspection and maintenance criteria 5) Initiate pre-trip inspections and enhanced journey planning 6) Implement a ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants standard audit process 7) Standardise the Motor Vehicle Crash investigation process 1) Define and identify high exposure / risk drivers A high exposure / risk driver is anyone driving 1560 miles (2500 km) and above per month on Company business, OR anyone driving 4 or more hours per day regardless of distance travelled (for people who fight heavy urban traffic). These drivers will be recorded and put forward for driver training programmes. 2) Implement driver training and medical monitoring High exposure drivers must attend an 8 hour defensive driving class with a PRACTICAL examination every 2 years; in addition they must pass medical criteria determined under the ChevronTexaco corporate health requirements. All other drivers (other employees) must watch a 15 minute defensive driving video every 2 years; they must also meet medical criteria to retain their driving licence. 3) Introduce "Rules of the Road" as a Company mindset The directives below will be issued to all countries for implementation, supported by poster campaigns and the issue of in-car stickers. • QUESTION THE NEED FOR EVERY TRIP • WEAR SEAT BELTS AT ALL TIMES • KEEP SPEED APPROPRIATE TO ROAD CONDITIONS • NO ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR MEDICATION • DO NOT DRIVE WHEN FATIGUED - TAKE REST BREAKS • NO CELL PHONE USE OR OTHER DISTRACTIONS • NO UNAUTHORISED PASSENGERS (HITCHHIKERS) • NO RIDING IN THE REAR OF PICKUPS OR FLAT BED TRUCKS • NO CRUISE CONTROL AT ALL TIMES • LIGHTS ON AT ALL TIMES TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY TO OTHER VEHICLES 4) Establish vehicle selection, inspection and maintenance criteria Vehicle procurement processes shall have mechanisms that ensure that a vehicle is assessed for "fitness for purpose" prior to procurement; this process should consider crash worthiness and other researched information. All seating positions within ChevronTexaco vehicles shall have either forward or rearward facing seats. Recommended safety equipment (where available) for all light vehicles within ChevronTexaco is: • Head restraints (front and back) • 3-point inertia locking seatbelts for all seating positions • Air bags (all possible) • 4-wheel anti-lock braking systems • Driver and passenger side mirrors • Spare tyre • First aid kit • Fire extinguisher • Accident investigation kit Similar guidelines are available for heavy goods vehicles and fuel tankers. Preventive maintenance recommendations (Company-owned vehicles only) are set in line with manufacturers’ requirements but also to take in to consideration the type of use of vehicles and any ancillary equipment. 5) Initiate pre-trip inspections and enhanced journey planning Pre-trip inspections should be completed for all vehicles driven for Company business to ensure that they are in a fit state for each driving task . It is the responsibility of each ChevronTexaco operating company / business unit to detail when and how regularly a pre-trip inspection is required. Examples of both light and heavy vehicle pre-trip inspections are located in the ChevronTexaco Road Safety Guidance Document which is available to all employees. As a minimum, pre-trip vehicle inspections shall include critical control systems such as seatbelts, brakes, fluid levels, tyres, lights and steering. Journeys will typically fall into one of two categories: 1) Routine and repetitive driving tasks associated with minimal travelling distance and familiar terrain. 2) Non-routine driving tasks associated with extended travel distances and unfamiliar terrain. Due consideration should be given to the necessity of the journey, the journey duration, expected arrival time, weather and driving conditions, driver health, recent working hours and scheduled breaks. 6) Implement a ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants standard audit process All Company and contractor motor vehicle crashes and near-miss incidents are to be recorded and reported in accordance with the established Company requirements in a standardised audit checklist - as per the protocol included in The Guidance Document. Compliance of each ChevronTexaco operating company / business unit to Motor Vehicle Safety standards shall be measured, and each operating company will conduct compliance audits of their business units every 3 years. Measures are also required to monitor the effectiveness of all Road Safety Management plans. Senior Management shall review the road safety performance of their business units and all associated processes at least every year. 7) Standardise the Motor Vehicle Crash investigation process
In summary ChevronTexaco are committed from Executive through all levels to improve Motor Vehicle Safety and eliminate MVCs – the journey has begun and will continue relentlessly until the objectives are achieved. |
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