EXECUTIVES in charge of transport are 'woefully ill prepared' to ensure they are meeting their duty of care to business drivers, an in-depth survey of the industry has warned.

Research by business training provider RRC Business Training has found that health and safety issues are low on the priority list of most companies and senior management is to blame. The firm revealed that 17% of board directors gave health and safety less importance than they did five years ago and believed training for employees was a waste.

Most of the staff in charge of employee health and safety were not aware of any regulations currently in place and many had no formal qualifications. Many were unaware of the attempts to ensure managers who failed in their duty of care to drivers could be prosecuted.

Gary Fallaize, managing director of RRC Business Training, said: 'There is a general suspicion of legislation for legislation's sake among businesses. If the Government is to succeed in its drive to improve safety standards, what is needed is a shift in attitude.'