Road Safety Week and ISO Certification
Road Safety Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about road safety, preventing accidents, and promoting responsible behaviour on the roads. It brings together stakeholders from governments, organisations, communities, and individuals to advocate for safer roads and better practices. An excellent way for you as an organisation to demonstrate your commitment to safety on the road, whether that be from your supply chain, travelling to different locations or even just on your employees’ daily commute, is through ISO certification.
ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) certifications are globally recognized standards that set benchmarks for quality, safety, efficiency, and sustainability across various domains. For road safety, ISO standards such as ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety are all incredibly useful for if your staff faces traffic at all. There is even an ISO standard for road safety; ISO 39001 road traffic Safety (RTS) management systems. Compliant do offer this standard and any ISO standard that you may want, however it is highly unlikely that an organisation will ask you for this, unless you are directly facing traffic consistently.
Explore here how ISO certifications (ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 in particular) contribute to improving road safety and why they are particularly significant during Road Safety Week.
Amplifying Awareness Campaigns
Road Safety Week is a prime opportunity for organisations to showcase their commitment to safety. ISO certifications, like ISO 45001, serve as a stamp of credibility, reinforcing trust among stakeholders. Companies can use this platform to educate employees, customers, and the community about their safety protocols and encourage safer practices.
Improved Accountability
ISO certifications ensure that organisations have clear processes and accountability mechanisms in place, like what is required during ISO 9001. During Road Safety Week, certified organisations can present case studies and reports showcasing how their safety measures have led to tangible results, such as reduced accidents or more efficient traffic management.
Collaboration with Stakeholders
Road Safety Week often involves partnerships with government bodies, NGOs, and community organisations. ISO-certified companies are better equipped to collaborate, as their adherence to international standards reflects reliability and competence. This collaboration can lead to joint campaigns, infrastructure improvements, and shared safety initiatives.
Setting an Example for Others
Organisations with ISO certifications become role models for other businesses. By publicly sharing their certification journey and the benefits it has brought to road safety, they inspire others to adopt similar standards. This ripple effect can magnify the impact of Road Safety Week initiatives; it also helps give you a competitive advantage over your competitors.
Helping Your Logistics
Whether this is for your delivery, or employee commute, it is imperative to ensure the right working policies so that your employees stay safe, which is of course the most imperative, but also for the logistical side of things also. ISO 45001 ensures drivers’ occupational health and safety, addressing issues such as fatigue management and possibly things like drug and alcohol testing if your employees are driving a lot, whereas ISO 9001 ensures that your supply chain is set out well and you can ensure your customers receive their product or service in good time. You could also consider ISO 22301 in this category, as if there was for example, a snowstorm, you would have procedures in place to combat this, so that your employees would not be at risk of being in danger by delivering.
Smart Traffic Solutions
ISO standards contribute to the integration of technology into traffic management. For instance:
- ISO 9001 ensures the quality and reliability of traffic systems.
- ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management) safeguards the data used in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Organisations can demonstrate these innovations during Road Safety Week by showcasing smart traffic lights, automated enforcement systems, and connected vehicle technologies.
Community Engagement
ISO-certified organizations often prioritise stakeholder engagement as part of their standard requirements. During Road Safety Week, these companies can organise community programs, such as:
- Road safety education for school children.
- Free vehicle inspections and maintenance workshops for the public.
- Awareness drives focusing on helmet use, seatbelts, and the dangers of distracted driving.
Challenges in Adopting ISO Standards and How Compliant Can Resolve Them
While ISO certifications offer immense benefits, organisations may face challenges in implementation, such as:
- Cost and Resource Allocation: Certification involves investments in training, audits, and infrastructure. To mitigate this, companies can seek subsidies or collaborate with industry bodies for shared resources. Compliant offers you flexible payment plans for all ISO certifications and can tailor the process to go as long and as short as you like.
- Change Management: Employees may resist new protocols, as they are not used to the way of which ISO certification makes you. Compliant are happy to meet with whomever it may concern on a regular basis to go through the whole process and to give everyone a run down on how the process follows; we are personable
- Continuous Compliance: Maintaining ISO standards requires ongoing effort. Road Safety Week serves as an annual reminder to review and renew commitments to safety standards, however your safety can be paramount all year round as we want to offer you ongoing support after your certification is complete.
The Process
Gap Analysis And Documentation
This includes your Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit, these can vary in the number of days depending on number of standards, employee numbers and business activity. You will pay this cost to your chosen certification body. Using this, you can identify what procedures you have in place that ensure your company is safe on the roads.
Stage 1 & 2 Assessments
A check on all documentation and make sure press flows are accurate and a comprehensive understanding of IMS to ensure the business meets the requirements of the standard. Check all controls are implemented, maintenances of KPIs and any corrective actions. You then have meetings with the management team to ensure compliance and understanding of the requirements in preparation for stage 2 on site audit.
Ongoing Support
You then receive your periodic maintenance and management reviews, which may include adjustments and improvements. Compliant are here to support you with this and to make sure that you maintain your certification after the three period cycle.
Road Safety Week is an opportune moment to reflect on the measures needed to make our roads safer. ISO certifications provide a structured approach to achieving these goals, fostering accountability, innovation, and community trust. Whether through reducing fleet accidents, promoting safer working practices, or engaging the public, ISO-certified organisations can lead the way in creating a culture of road safety. By leveraging these standards, we not only enhance safety during this week but also lay the foundation for a safer, more sustainable future on our roads.
