SAFETY FIRST
Page 26

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The Inland Revenue wants to tax the wrong vans [after the Budget announcement that it is to review taxes on vans]. Older vans might give out more carbon emissions than newer vans, but this is minimal compared to the amount of privately-owned cars on the road. The crucial issue should be how safe a van is as an operational tool, not how big or old it is. Companies who provide workers with unsafe vans should be heavilyfined and forced to change their work safety policies.
About 70 people are killed in workplace transport-related accidents each year, and there are about 5,000 injuries a year that cause people to be off work for more than three days (according to the Health & Safety Executive).
These vehicle-related accidents cost employees in excess of .£100m a year. By forcing companies to look at their health and safety record, the government would save them a considerable amount of money and lost time.
Alan Copley,
General manager, Razorback Vehicles Corporation.