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Now that the ANSI/ASSE Z15.1 standard “Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations” has received final ANSI approval, many safety, health and environmental (SH&E) professionals are eager to see how this standard will affect transportation safety.

In this interview, Carmen Daecher, Chair of the ANSI Z15 Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) on Safety Requirements for Motor Vehicle Operations, and Bill Hinderks, Vice Chair of the Z15.1 standard, explain the structure and intent of the standard as well as its predicted impact on safety rates, vehicle management and driver hiring and training procedures.

What are your positions within the ANSI Z15 ASC on Safety Requirements for Motor Vehicle Operations, and how have you each contributed to the development of the new Z15.1 standard?

Daecher: I am the Chair of the ANSI Z15 ASC. I was instrumental in forming this committee through the ASSE, and I provided the committee with foundation materials to consider in the development of the Z15.1 standard. As Chair of all committee meetings, I encourage dialogue among members and lead discussions for consensus.
Hinderks: I presently serve as Vice Chair of the Z15.1 standard, which is now officially titled “ Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations .” I was also Chair of the subcommittee that developed Section 4 of the standard named “ Operational Environment .” Lastly, I served on a four-person editorial committee headed by Stephanie Pratt of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This group merged the various sections of the standard, made grammatical corrections and brought a uniform “look and feel” to the final document. We reviewed nearly 100 pages of public review comments and made appropriate changes, while we referred comments of a substantive nature to the larger group for action.

How is the Z15.1 standard different from its predecessor, the National Safety Council's American National Standard Method of Recording and Measuring Motor Vehicle Fleet Accident Experience and Passenger Accident Experience (D15.1-1976)? What new requirements, recommendations or features does it include?

Daecher: The Z15.1 standard differs from its predecessor, the D15.1 standard, in that it provides guidelines for implementing a complete management system for motor vehicle operations. The old standard primarily intended to develop means of measuring accidents and comparing accident rates. The new standard does incorporate accident measurement, but it is more robust in providing guidelines for developing and implementing an effective risk management program for motor vehicle operations.

Hinderks: The expired D15.1 standard was narrower in scope and mainly addressed accident recording and analysis. The Z15.1 standard is more comprehensive and provides guidelines designed to help organizations address a wide range of safety management issues related to motor vehicle operations.

What is the framework of the Z15.1 standard? Does it offer specific guidelines for a safety program?

Daecher: The Z15.1 is developed around a framework of risk elements associated with motor vehicle operations. Basic management structure, driver considerations, vehicle considerations and operational considerations and methods to monitor and measure effectiveness are the foundations of this framework.

How do you predict the Z15.1 standard will impact commercial and non-commercial vehicles? How is the standard expected to improve injury and accident rates and to reduce property losses?

Daecher: The Z15.1 standard should not have a substantial impact on commercial vehicle operations. Most of those operations already have structured risk management programs. However, for non-commercial fleets, the standard can have substantial value. The standard offers guidelines to develop more effective management of motor vehicle operations.

Since motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of occupational injuries and fatalities, a risk management program for motor vehicle operations should positively impact the workplace.

Hinderks: The objective of any standard is to improve performance by “raising the bar,” so to speak. For organizations actively engaged in safety management, the Z15.1 standard will be a useful tool to gauge present programs. Where no formalized efforts currently exist, the standard serves as a user-friendly resource that outlines precisely what is needed to develop a program and better manage this significant exposure. Better management of vehicle operations will lead to improved results. This includes reducing the frequency of collisions, preventing fatalities, injuries, property damage and traffic violations and ultimately lowering costs.

In what ways will the Z15.1 standard help to streamline vehicle management?  
Daecher: I am not sure that the Z15.1 standard will streamline vehicle management, but it should provide a better process for purchasing and maintaining vehicles so as to produce safer operations for vehicle users and their organization.

Hinderks: There will be a more common understanding of what is meant by a driver safety or fleet safety program. This will undoubtedly make things less complicated for, as an example, organizations that require contractors to have a safety program in place. In the past, these organizations would have needed to define what that meant from their point of view. Meanwhile, other organizations might have different program requirements of the same contractor. So potentially, a contractor might need to have as many programs in place as they have customers. That is confusing.

With an effective national consensus standard, everyone reads off the same (or very similar) sheet of music. This makes it easier for the customer to hire safer operators and for the contractor to comply with the customers' requirements.

What criteria does the Z15.1 standard give for measuring vehicle safety performance?

Daecher: The Z15.1 standard identifies the root cause analysis of accidents as a primary basis for measuring effectiveness. In this regard, vehicle safety performance should be considered whenever an accident occurs. If any components or maintenance-specific issues regarding the vehicle contribute to accidents, the organization should identify and address them to prevent future occurrences.

Hinderks: The current trend in safety circles is to evaluate whether an organization is doing the right things. One performance measure would be whether or not the organization adhered to all applicable portions of the standard. There is latitude within the Z15.1 standard to account for differences in organizations and their unique operations and exposures. However, in most cases, they are either properly managing a program element or they are not. This is very objective, and it should be relatively easy for management to measure.

How can organizations use the Z15.1 standard to improve driver hiring and training procedures?

Daecher: The Z15.1 standard specifies guidelines for driver hiring and training. From a hiring point of view, the applicants' driving behaviors should be considered for employment purposes. Review of their Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) should also be part of the hiring process. Any new employees should be trained to drive defensively upon employment, and to underscore the importance of defensive driving, they should receive regular refresher training. If employees have accidents, receive tickets or behave in some other unacceptable way, remedial training should be provided.

The standard prescribes the use of a hiring procedure and training procedures as part of the total risk management process for safe vehicle operations.

Hinderks: Organizations can compare their hiring and screening practices to those outlined within the standard. This will allow them to identify shortfalls within their process, and it will guide them in implementing enhancements.

How will you ensure that state and federal government agencies recognize the new Z15.1 standard? Do you expect to encounter any difficulties?

Daecher: I do not have any plans to ensure that state and federal government agencies recognize the new Z15.1 standard. The standard has been built as a guideline for organizations that use motor vehicles as part of their business activities. I am not interested in the standard becoming a regulatory requirement by any agency—I am more interested in having organizations, including governmental entities, use the standard to improve their motor vehicle operations.

Hinderks: Interest in a motor vehicle safety standard originated with fleet operators. When Mr. Daecher served as Administrator of the ASSE's Transportation Practice Specialty in 2000, members approached him about the need for a standard to assist them in their work. Hence, the original impetus for a vehicle safety standard was the transportation industry itself.

How do you predict the standard will interact with federal and state regulations?

Daecher: Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is concerned about motor vehicle accidents in the workplace. They have issued guidelines in partnership with the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) for use by all organizations. I do not believe that OSHA will apply the Z15.1 standard as a regulatory requirement. They may consider its use as a guideline for organizations, but it would be difficult to incorporate the standard from an enforcement point of view. Furthermore, OSHA already has guidelines for the use of motor vehicles and other equipment in specific situations such as construction. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has regulations in place for commercial operations, and the Z15.1 standard does not offer any additional elements or criteria that are not already embodied in those regulations.

Hinderks: The committee was especially sensitive to this issue. The Z15.1 standard is designed to complement existing regulations. In fact, the standard specifically states that: “Organizations shall have a system in place to monitor federal, state and local regulations in order to comply with all regulations and implement any policy/procedure change in a timely manner.” In this respect, the standard may further influence organizations to become compliant with existing regulations.

The Z15.1 standard is the first in a series of planned safety standards for motor vehicle operations. What subjects will the future Z15 standards address? 

Daecher: It is too early to tell what future standards under Z15 will be addressed. At this point, I am anxious to see how the Z15.1 standard will be used by organizations and what issues arise through its use. I expect that feedback from those who apply it will drive the future evolution of the standard.

What is the Z15 Committee's agenda for 2006-2007?

Daecher: ANSI fully approved the Z15.1 standard on February 15, 2006, and it will be published in the spring. I also expect that the committee will meet at some point late in 2006 or possibly early in 2007 to review the dissemination and use of the standard.