LOCAL authority fleets are being offered a new safety service to help ensure they meet their duty of care to at-work drivers.

As part of the new service, public sector insurance and risk management provider Zurich Municipal will review current procedures and identify and minimise the risks faced by local authorities.

Zurich executives say the move follows recent Health and Safety Executive guidelines that companies should ensure their vehicles are fit-for-purpose, including those owned by employees but used for company business.

Loss control manager Ian Gammans said: ‘It is vital for employers to have policies and procedures in place to manage risks. If an accident occurs, employers failing to comply could face a Health and Safety Executive prosecution and/or civil case for damages.’