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Bus crash provokes sick pay policy warning

Date: 24 July 2015   |   Author: Tristan Young

A risk management expert is advising businesses to check their sick pay policies don't push people into driving when they are unfit to do so.

The warning follows a serious bus crash in Brighton at the start of July moments after a driver became ill.
Reports in Brighton's local paper The Argus claimed that the bus company involved had a policy of paying drivers 80% of their salary when they were ill.

Since the collision, Brighton & Hove Bus Company managing director Martin Harris said the firm accepted responsibility for the incident.

"The accident was exactly that. A terrible accident," said Harris. "The medical episode that affected our driver minutes before the collision could not have been foreseen by him. It could not have been foreseen by us as his employers. There was no previous history of this condition. There were no symptoms of this condition apparent when he declared himself fit to work.

"Nevertheless, I can confirm that Brighton & Hove Bus Company accepts responsibility for the incident and we will continue to work with those investigating the incident and will support those passengers involved."

However, GMB, the driver's union, called on the bus company to explain what happened leading up to the crash.

Paul Maloney, GMB regional secretary, said: "Whistle-blowers have told us the driver told his supervisor that he was feeling unwell prior to starting his working day at 6am, and a number of witnesses reported that he looked unwell.

"We have written to the company demanding an explanation as to how our member was sent out to drive despite letting them know he was unwell.

"We know the company has imposed punitive wage deductions when drivers go off sick, and questions need to be answered as to whether the driver felt directly or indirectly pressured to drive despite being unfit for work."

Nigel Grainger, founder of Fleet Risk Consultants, advised all businesses to make sure that if staff were ill they should be at home getting better.

"Companies shouldn't be giving incentives for staff to work when they are ill and there shouldn't be penalties for drivers making the right decision about being too unwell to drive," said Grainger.

He added: "The difficulty is knowing how ill staff are. We don't insist drivers take antihistamine if they suffer from hayfever, but a sneeze could result in a crash."

The Health and Safety Executive said it does not give guidance on sick pay's influence on safety in the workplace, adding that it is up to individual employers.



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