Rathbones Bakery
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Driver tiredness
Rathbones Bakeries has produced and delivered bread for over 100 years without any fatalities, before having 12 fatalities in three years. In the worst incident, one of the company's truck drivers hit a car and killed its four occupants. The driver pleaded guilty to falling asleep at the wheel and served five years in prison.
In response to these tragedies Rathbones employed Awake to help tackle the issue of driver tiredness. Awake developed a bespoke training programme to raise awareness of the importance of sleep and the dangers associated with driver tiredness - all with the aim of eliminating risk. The success of the training was noted by the Federation of Bakers (FoB), who with Awake, held its first ever Drive-Safe seminar for the benefit of the entire baking industry.
Workplace impairment due to drugs or alcohol
Awake has also worked with Rathbones to educate drivers and managers on the workplace impairment associated with drug and alcohol use. The training programme covered the following topics:
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The company’s legal responsibilities as well as those of management and employees. The balance between individual rights to privacy and the need to protect other employees and the general public; |
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UK statistics on the extent of drug and alcohol misuse and its cost to business. |
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The principle drugs of abuse: what do they do, how long their effects last, how long can they be detected? |
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The effects that drugs and medicines can have on workplace performance, in particular driving and operating machinery; |
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How to identify the signs of drug use and drug-related impairment; |
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The drugs screening devices available: their strengths and weaknesses. |
The programme was developed by Awake consultants who had been responsible for DfT research projects, including the effects of drugs on driving, the development of police training on drugs awareness, and the introduction of police roadside impairment tests.
