At TMconsultant, we strive to help with making life easy and stress-free for operators to obtain their Bronze accreditation. So we thought we would let you know our top 10 reasons why operators fail their FORS Bronze audit. All our consultants are current FORS auditors, so they see the same avoidable errors.
M7 Risk Assessments
There is a total of 16 risk assessments an auditor will ask you to evidence for your FORS bronze audit. However, there are two of the 16 that might not be applicable to your business, (Coupling/uncoupling & specialist operations). As a minimum, you will be required to evidence the remaining 14. Below are the most common risk assessments that operators fail to evidence at an audit.
1. COSHH
There are no operators that don’t need a basic COSHH risk assessment. It still amazes us how many operators are adamant they do not require COSSH. However, their employees handle, Diesel, AdBlue, Washer Fluid & come into contact with oil and grease.
2. Speed, adverse weather conditions, and seat belts.
Please remember to include the above important points into your risk assessments. Many operators do seem to forget these points, your Auditor is specifically looking for them.
3. Routing
You still need a routing risk assessment that covers potential risks, even you do not have regular routes or are subject to construction routes.
4. Passenger Safety
If FORS Auditors had a pound for every time we’ve heard “we don’t carry passengers” or “this is for buses, we don’t run busses”, we’d all be very wealthy. The passenger risk assessment applies to all vehicles in your fleet with passenger seats. Make sure you have your passenger safety risk assessment ready.
5. O6 Operational Security & O7 Counterterrorism
This one always surprises us. This section of V5.1 has had so much communication from FORS including the online Tool Kit’s. However, operators are still failing to evidence a risk assessment to cover this section.
Need help with risk assessments? You can purchase our risk assessment templates as a pack or individually from our shop.
Polices
There are several policies in the FORS V5.1 Bronze standard that require special attention and require specific content.
7. D4 Manager training
Transport managers and responsible people (Directors) are required to have completed a FORS approved refresher course within the last five years, (see our blog for more details). This section has accounted for the most major action points since Jan 2020
8. D6 Health and eyesight
Companies forget to include in their policy that an eyesight check will be conducted after a driver is involved in a road traffic collision, incident, or near-miss.
9. D7 Drivers’ hours and working time
This policy can very detailed, and although the operator generally knows the rules on drivers’ hours/WTD, they will overlook the lost or defective company/driver tachograph card procedures. This is something your FORS Bronze auditor is specifically looking for.
O1 Routing & O2 Passenger safety
We find many operators overlook both these policies. Make sure you don’t!
10. O3 Road Traffic Collisions
A company will usually have this policy but will neglect to add the important element that “a driver shall be assessed for well-being and competency to ensure they are fit to return to driving duties”.
Still unsure?
We hope our top 10 reasons why operators fail their FORS Bronze audit have helped. However, if you are still unsure, then you can purchase our Bronze audit packs, alternatively just get in touch.
FORS Help Basic – Documents including a to-do list
FORS Help Support – Documents plus email and telephone support
FORS Help pre-audit package – Documents, support plus two site visits
