D.tec International welcomes update to the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) which continues to insist that commercial fleet operators do more to tackle drugs and alcohol within their workplaces. 

FORS is an accreditation scheme which aims to raise the level of quality within commercial freight and passenger fleet operations, and to demonstrate which operators are achieving exemplary levels of best practice in safety, efficiency, and environmental protection. The scheme audits these operators and awards bronze, silver and gold accreditations.

Since being introduced in 2008 by Transport for London (TfL), it has grown in popularity and now extends to all parts of the UK with a significant and fast-growing number of customers demanding compliance to the standard in order for operators to carry out work on their behalf.

The latest FORS Standard (Version 6.0), continues to include a requirement for fleet operators to have policies and supporting procedures in place to prevent driver impairment through drugs and alcohol. It insists that action is taken when suspecting driver impairment and for drug and alcohol testing to be conducted before employment or the start of a particular contract, routinely, randomly, or unannounced and after involvement in a road traffic collision, incident or near-miss.

Ean Lewin, Managing Director for D.tec International, the UK’s leading provider of drug and alcohol testing services and equipment for safety critical employees, said “I am delighted that FORS continue to recognise the importance of addressing the growing trend of drug and alcohol related incidents in our workplaces and on our roads. Employers must embrace the issue and ensure that they have robust policies and procedures in place, such as those required by FORS, to help tackle the problem”.

A recent update to  guidance on work-related road risk (WRRR) for employers and workers, published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), now emphasises to employers, the importance of ensuing their workers do not drive under the influence of drink or drugs, including those provided by prescription.

In 2019, there were 7,860 drink driving related collisions resulting in 280 deaths – the highest number in a decade and an increase of 15% from the previous year.

In the same period, 92 people were killed and 672 were seriously injured in collisions where a driver was impaired by drugs. The actual figure is likely to be much higher.

The latest FORS standard will be implemented on 1^st July 2022 and follows extensive industry feedback across a variety of platforms, including from FORS members, detailed technical input from the Standard Review Working Group, and the wider Governance and Standards Advisory Group which comprises a range of key stakeholders and supporters of FORS.

FORS have suggested that the new standard is intended to be a pragmatic and incremental change from the current version (5.1) and that its contents will be manageable by the industry during this particularly challenging period.

For more information on how D.tec International can help your businesses to stay compliant, visit: https://www.dtecinternational.com/FORS