ASSP revises key standard to elevate motor vehicle safety
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has revised a national voluntary consensus standard that defines core elements of a fleet safety program to help organizations protect workers on the road. There are 3.5 million fleets in North America, and 32 million commercial vehicles are used.
ANSI/ASSP Z15.1-2024 Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations outlines industry best practices for the safe management and use of motor vehicles owned or operated by an organization. The standard provides guidance to fleet managers and safety professionals on creating written programs and policies, enhancing safety through speed management and driver training, addressing impaired and distracted driving, implementing routine vehicle inspections and maintenance, and conducting proper incident reporting.
Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP
“This safety standard is significant because motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related fatalities,” said ASSP President Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP. “These tragic incidents are avoidable. Employers need expert guidance on identifying and managing risks their workers face on the road.”
The revised standard strengthens incident reporting and analysis requirements and includes modifications that address today’s vehicles, technologies, and operating environments.
“The best way to manage workplace hazards and keep workers safe is to incorporate a structured, proactive approach that assesses risks, identifies system gaps, and implements best practices,” Walaski said.
Organizations that make fleet safety a core value also help reduce the economic and reputational costs of crashes involving their workers. That may include medical care, vehicle repair, liability, lost productivity, environmental impacts, and damage to the company’s reputation.
The Z15.1 subcommittee that revised the standard comprised 11 safety and health experts from insurance, academia, government, and other fields. The inclusive process took 2½ years.
Voluntary consensus standards provide the latest expert guidance and fill gaps where federal standards don’t exist. Companies rely on them to drive improvement, injury prevention, and sustainability. Government regulations are slow to change and often outdated, so federal compliance is insufficient to protect workers.
ASSP leads the development of voluntary consensus standards for the workplace. In its last fiscal year, ASSP created, reaffirmed, or revised 15 standards, technical reports, and guidance documents, engaging 1,400 safety experts representing 500 organizations. The Society also distributed more than 14,000 copies of standards.
To obtain Z15.1-2024 or other workplace safety standards, visit the online ASSP Store.
