| |
Home > About USPS & News > Forms & Publications > Postal Periodicals and Publications > Manuals > Employee and Labor Relations Manual - Issue 18 > 8 Safety, Health, and Environment > 830 Motor Vehicle and Industrial Safety
The objective of the Motor Vehicle Safety Program is to comply with
applicable Department of Transportation regulations and to encourage safe
driving to reduce the amount of property damage and human suffering
caused by vehicle accidents while maintaining an efficient delivery and
collection system.
831.2 Vehicle Maintenance
All installation heads having motor vehicles under their control must develop
and administer controls necessary to ensure that the provisions outlined in
Handbook PO-701, Fleet Management, are followed.
831.31 Driver Selection
Postal personnel responsible for hiring, road testing, supervising, and
providing medical services must ensure that only qualified applicants are
hired and/or retained for driving positions. The determination of "qualified"
must be based on:
a. Past driving record.
b. The ability to avoid accidents, traffic violations, vehicle abuse, schedule
delays, and discourtesy.
c. Physical fitness as outlined in Handbook EL-806, Health and Medical
Service.
d. Requirements specified in TD 087-Course Number 43513-00.
831.32 Driver Training
Initial driver training, periodic driver improvement training, and special
emphasis training must be designed and implemented to develop and
maintain a professional, defensive driving workforce. (Defensive driving is
defined by the National Safety Council as "driving to prevent accidents in
spite of the incorrect actions of others and adverse conditions.") Such training
must regularly be reinforced by the first-line supervisor. The careful selection
of personnel to act as driving instructors is essential to ensure proper
attitude, enthusiasm, interest, and understanding of the subject matter.
831.33 Driver Supervision
831.331 Supervisory Responsibility
Special responsibility for safe motor vehicle operations, as outlined in
Handbook EL-801, Supervisor's Safety Handbook; Handbook PO-701, Fleet
Management; and Handbook EL-814, Postal Employee's Guide to Safety,
must be followed. To enforce a high standard of professional driving
performance, supervisors must complete Form 4584, Observation of Driving
Practices, for each driver under their direct supervision at least semiannually
and at other times deemed appropriate, including at 30, 60, and 80 days for
probationary drivers. Supervisors must familiarize themselves with defensive
driving techniques so that they know what the common driving errors are,
how they can be detected, and how they can be prevented.
831.332 Driver Responsibility
Drivers must obey all traffic laws and postal policies, drive defensively and
professionally, and extend courtesy in all situations. Specific driving
responsibilities are outlined in Handbook PO-701, Fleet Management, in
Handbook EL-801, Supervisor's Safety Handbook, and in Handbook EL-814,
Employee Guide to Safety.
831.4 Accident Analysis
Managers and supervisors must analyze accident data to determine the
hazards of vehicle operations and the primary causes of vehicle accidents
and develop special action plans to reduce or eliminate them.
|
|
