ISO 39001 is an international standard that specifies the requirements necessary to establish an effective Road Traffic Safety Management System (RTSMS). Issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), its primary objective is to help any organization that interacts with the road traffic system to significantly reduce deaths and serious injuries resulting from road accidents.
The standard applies to all types and sizes of organizations, whether government agencies or private companies, as long as they have the responsibility or ability to influence traffic safety. This includes, for example, transport companies, logistics providers, road agencies, or any organization whose operations rely on a fleet of vehicles.
Substantive requirements of ISO 39001
The implementation of the standard requires an organization to adopt a systematic framework focused on theSafe System Approach, and the key requirements that must be documented and implemented include the following:
1. Leadership and strategic planning: The organization must develop an appropriateRTS policy that defines senior management’s commitment to achieving traffic safety goals. The scope and contextmust be defined, and internal and external influencing factors must be understood. The organization must comply with relevant legal requirements and establish measurable goals and action plans to reduce accidents and injuries.
2. Identify and manage critical performance factors: The organization should focus on the key factors of traffic safety that are within its sphere of influence or control. These factors include
- Safe speed, by setting appropriate speeds for vehicles and road conditions.
- Driver fitness, making sure they are not driving under the influence of fatigue, distractions, or substances.
- Safe trip planning, including choosing the appropriate route, vehicle type, and driver.
- Vehicle safety, making sure they are maintained and continuously conform to legal requirements.
- Use of protective equipment, such as seat belts and motorcycle helmets.
- Post-accident response,with effective plans for rapid response and recovery.
3. Support, operation and optimization: Ongoing training and education on traffic safety must be provided to all employees and drivers. The system also requires monitoring and measuring performance using accurate indicators (e.g. accident rate, speed compliance). Finally, the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) cycle is applied to ensure continuous improvement of the system’s effectiveness.
Strategic and operational benefits of implementing ISO 39001
Achieving ISO 39001 certification and adhering to its requirements brings tangible benefits beyond mere compliance:
- Minimizing accidents and losses: The ultimate goal is to reduce fatalities, serious injuries and direct material losses associated with traffic accidents.
- Reduced costs: The system reduces financial losses caused by accidents, including compensation costs, vehicle damage, higher insurance premiums, and loss of employee productivity.
- Legal and social compliance: The system ensures strict compliance with legal requirements and demonstrates the organization’s commitment to social responsibility towards the safety of the community and road users.
- Improve the organization’s reputation and competitive advantage: This standard enhances the organization’s image as a responsible and safety-conscious entity, giving it a preferential advantage in tenders and contracts, especially with partners that enforce high safety standards.
- Increased system efficiency: Transportation planning and management improves, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of overall operational performance.
The role of development experts and consultants
Specialized experts play a critical role in achieving successful compliance and certification, providing support in the following phases:
- Gap Analysis: Experts assess the current state of the organization and compare it accurately to the requirements of ISO 39001 to identify areas of weakness.
- System design and documentation: Assist in the development of documented policies, procedures and traffic safety objectives required by international standards.
- Risk Management: Identifying, analyzing and assessing traffic risks specific to the organization’s activity and developing preventive strategies to reduce them.
- Training: Provide extensive training to staff and employees on understanding and applying the system requirements, including the preparation of internal auditors.
- Internal Audit and Preparedness: Oversee internal audits to ensure the system is effective and prepared for successful final accreditation.
Do you have specific questions about how to implement this system in your organization or industry, or need additional details about any of these requirements?
