The ICON Programme

The ICON programme is recommended by the Road Haulage Association and is recognised by the Health & Safety Executive, the Department for Transport and the Traffic Commissioners.

I have reviewed the ICON programme in great detail. Clearly, ICON has been specifically developed by transport companies to address the issues faced by transport companies.

Any operator who is following the ICON programme can be confident that they have, as required by their ‘O’ licence undertakings, proper arrangements in place. If need be, they can prove it!

Proper arrangements are about safe, fair and efficient road transport. An industry standard is needed to take these principles forward. I am absolutely clear that ICON is that standard for the road transport industry for the future.

Michael Betts CBE
Senior Traffic Commissioner (Retired)

Giving you the Tools

ICON is a wide-ranging programme involving managers, drivers and maintenance staff. It offers a carefully devised programme of actions designed to allow road transport operators to rapidly introduce a culture of road transport safety across their business.

The ICON programme is contained within a three-part pack.

Part 1 comprises:

A Risk Survey carried out with the help of our Risk Advisors
A management safety culture framework
Code of practice undertaking for managers, drivers and maintenance staff.

Part 2 consists of:

A comprehensive manual detailing areas of risk that need to be managed
Ready to use guidance notes, action lists and check sheets.

The areas of transport management that are addressed include:

‘O’ Licence Compliance
Driver Recruitment
Authority to Drive
Driving Licence Checks
Fitness for Work
Vehicle Maintenance
Driving Safely
Managing Temporary Drivers
Dealing with Traffic Accidents
Driving for Economy
Drivers Hours Regulations
Risks on Premises
Safe Loading of Vehicles
Manual Handling
Driver Communication

Part 3 deals with:

Induction training
Addressing driver training needs
Keeping training records.

Making it Happen

Turning safety theory into a series of practical actions that will not get in the way of you running your day to day business is what ICON is all about. The first step is a face-to-face meeting with one of our Risk Advisors who will help you carry out an initial Risk Survey.

Having gained a clear understanding of what transport safety measures are already in place in your business, the Risk Advisor will work with you to devise a practical action plan to ensure that over an agreed timescale, those areas that require development can be prioritised and addressed.

The Risk Advisor will take you through the ICON programme in detail so that you can quickly and easily introduce it into your business.

Maintaining the Momentum

Helping you to introduce the ICON process is just the beginning of our involvement. Every six months, our Risk Advisor will visit you to:

Review progress
Help you deal with any specific issues that may have arisen
Review the action plan
Update the plan so that you have an agreed framework for activity over the next six months
Monitor compliance with your ‘O’ licence undertakings
Ensure compliance with the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 so far as it relates to road transport
Monitor your record keeping.