HOSPITAL laboratory supplies specialist Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics has taken steps to tackle its rising accident rates.

The company has seen accident rates increase from four accidents per million miles driven to about eight.

It has appointed Owen Holbourn, national account manager from Peak Performance, as risk management co-ordinator, a new role that will include sitting on a steering group to the company’s safe fleet programme with a number of company managers, chaired by general manager UK and Nordic John Menzies. Holbourn is still employed by Peak Performance.

The safe fleet programme covers the fleets on OCD and sister company Lifescan, comprising about 150 vehicles and company drivers. Menzies said: ‘There has been a lack of co-ordination in this key area of the business since the previous incumbent left the company, and we felt that we needed an external adviser to help redress the situation.’