The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has launched a nationwide inspection campaign aimed at strengthening driving for work risk management and supporting safer workplace driving practices across Ireland.

Reported by Fleet Transport, the initiative will focus on employers whose staff drive as part of their work, whether driving forms a primary responsibility or a secondary part of their role. The campaign will cover organisations across sectors including construction, manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, utilities, local authorities, transport operations and professional services.

During inspections, HSA inspectors will assess how organisations manage driving for work risks, including whether driving activities are included in safety statements, appropriate risk assessments have been completed, and suitable control measures have been implemented.

Inspectors will also examine how employers ensure drivers are fit for work, verify that vehicles used for business purposes are safe and roadworthy, and provide employees with appropriate information, instruction and training to support safe driving and journey planning.

According to the HSA, people who drive for work are 40% more likely to be involved in a road collision than other drivers, with work-related driving estimated to account for one in three road collisions each year.

Senior Inspector Deirdre Sinnott McFeat said employers have an important role in reducing road deaths and serious injuries by ensuring that workplace driving policies prioritise safety over deadlines, productivity targets and commercial pressures.

The HSA said driving for work should be managed with the same level of planning and oversight as any other workplace hazard, with employers required to identify risks and implement appropriate measures to protect employees and other road users.

The campaign highlights the growing importance of integrating road safety into broader workplace health and safety strategies, helping organisations strengthen compliance while promoting safer driving behaviours and reducing occupational road risks across Ireland.