For the month of November, we are putting in the spotlight two key areas relating to our Hazard of the Month.
Driving Safely
Driving Safely is important no matter what the weather, but in Autumn and Winter as nights grow darker more quickly and cold weather brings rain, snow and ice, it is more crucial than ever.
In 2014, figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that 29 people were killed, 251 were seriously injured and 2,274 were slightly injured in reported road accidents on Great Britain’s roads when there was snow or ice on the road surface. Just like we change how we dress in different seasons, motorists need to adapt the way we drive during the winter and be prepared for journeys that may take us through very varied weather, road and traffic conditions. This includes measures such as:
- Planning your travel
- Controlling your speed
- Driving smoothly
- Understanding your vehicle’s ABS
- Being prepared in case of breakdowns or other issues
If you drive for work, it is important to have the foundations of driving safely cemented in your mind, as well as what your responsibilities are in terms of driving as part of your job. This will help you stay safe on the road and feel confident when out and about. However, many of us are currently not driving as much as we usually do especially if you are working from home when you would usually travel for your job. If so, freshening up on the essentials of driving may be a good idea.
If you are someone who drives regularly for work or just as part of daily life, our Driving Safely online training course is a great resource which allows users to evaluate themselves on their driving skills as well as providing them valuable information on vehicle maintenance and driving technique!
Learn more about the course HERE.
Time Management
Managing a busy work and home life can be difficult, especially as it is very easy to become distracted or overwhelmed with the amount of things to do in a day.
Poor task management can prevent you from carrying out your job effectively. It can also have a negative impact on your mental and physical health with added stress and other issues. To illustrate this, research has found that the average office worker spends up to 5 hours on non-work related activity every day. Despite this, a study has also found that as well as staying late – only 24 percent of office workers never work through their lunch breaks, and a third (34 percent) work through their lunches every single day. Obviously, we are not always getting the balance right.
When we are unable to plan our tasks and responsibilities properly, this can cause problems in other areas of life. For example, we may be unable to find the time to plan our journeys properly which can lead to rushed and therefore, less safe driving. By applying practical time management techniques, this can help manage these issues and it is something that all employees can benefit from in order to be as proactive as possible whilst maintaining a work-life balance.
If you are looking to improve your productivity and organisation skills to better manage your time, our Time Management online training course is ideal for you; it covers simple yet effective techniques you can use to get organised, set goals and prioritise tasks.
Learn more about the course HERE.
If these topics and their relevant courses are of interest, for this month only you can get a 10% DISCOUNT with the code ‘drive20’! But be quick, as it will expire at the end of this month!