My friend drives a van for a national delivery company. Its a death trap. What authority can he go to about it

Question

His employer dont do anything! Last month he complained about the brakes and they took it off the road for a day and they told him it had new brake discs and pads. Last week he spun the van 360 and dented it. Was lucky he didnt crash.

But recently hes noticed smoke and 2day something wasnt rite so he called his depot who called out aa and they said to him theres no way the brakes have been done and he was surprised he could stop as the pads had worn down, it was just metal, he had no brakes on his right side.

And 5 vans at the depot have flat batteries and have to be jump started every morning. Head office wont authorise new batteries.

There also was something hanging off underneith his van the aa said, that if it had come off on the motorway would have killed someone.

Something needs to be done about this company. Im worried about my friend and how dare the company be putting these vans on the road. Who can he contact to get this company looked at?

Answer 1

Best to go to an MOT centre where they can check the vehicle out good and proper. It is a miracle that he didn't crash and either kill himself or someone else. Tell your friend to send the courier company the bill for having the van checked out. Typical, the company would much rather risk their employees' lives than to spend a few bob on getting their vehicles maintained. Who is the courier company? (if you can answer)

Answer 2

i would get a hold of the D.O.T. they will do something about it have them check everything

Answer 3

In the UK you could report them to VOSA (0870 6060440, http://www.vosa.gov.uk/ ), who are the Government agency responsible for the safety of fleet vehicles.

You could also report them to the Health & Safety Executive, for placing their employees in danger.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/

You can report incidents online at http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm or by phone.

Answer 4

http://www.osha.gov/

Answer 5

If he feels strong enough to be a whistleblower, he could contact the Vehicle Inspectorate,or VOSA (don't know the up to date name, but they are an agency of the department for transport). All commercial companies should have up to date maintenence records for their vehicle fleets

Answer 6

his first stop should be the police. they can get the vans inspected and taken off the road.

Answer 7

I think the local or state police will be interested to know... the van is a danger to him, and everyone else on the road.

Answer 8

these vans must at some point pass an MOT, to be deemed fit enough to drive on the road or they couldn't be taxed.

So if i was him i'd contact his nearest health & safety team, if these vans are death-traps the local Council Authority should be notified.

they are the ones that grant licences to local businesses.

Answer 9

Complain to corporate HQ

Complain to OSHA

Talk to DMV - they are probably a registered fleet with the DMV.

Better Business Bureau

could also make an anonymous call to a newspaper or tv station.

Answer 10

Call the Highway Patrol, or State Troopers in your area, who will refer you to the commercial vehicle enforcement division of their agency.  Make a note of what time and day of the week are all the vehicles at the terminal.  The inspecting officer will show up when all the vehicles are parked at the terminal.

Answer 11

His van is a place of work and therefore comes under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It is the employers legal duty to provide a safe place of work and ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments have been carried out. Tell your friend to drop a line or call the local enforcement office he does not have to give his name and the employer will be visited by the Factory Inspector who will then take the relevant enforcement action to ensure his and the other employees safety

Answer 12

if its TNT I work for them too...the very worst of employers

Answer 13

The head office of the parent company.

The DVLA.

The local Health and Safety dept. of the council.

The Police.

Whilst he is behind the wheel, it is HIS legal responsibility to ensure any vehicle is legal and roadworthy, not his company's' (by law).  So, if he did kill someone, due to a defective van, HE would be held totally responsible for all charges relating to the condition of 'his' vehicle.

I would urge him to get advice from a shop steward, or solicitor, or even the CAB, and see about refusing work in such dangerous conditions.  They couldn't sack him for it, as he would have valid grounds for taking them to an Industrial Tribunal for unfair / constructive dismissal.

These are all points relating to the UK.

Answer 14

he MUST refuse to drive the vehicle-an offences committed will be HIS responsibility!report company to VOSA+police+local health n safety/environmental health.also try newspapers as they love to name+shame company's that endanger innocent peeps lives....oh and GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 15

If it is in the UK, contact VOSA

Their website is www.vosa.gov.uk

Answer 16

Don't know, but I think he should look for a new, safer job!

Answer 17

The real problem here is his conflict of interest - he needs a job, yet he wants it to be safe.  What he needs is a new job, THEN to get the vans inspected.

At present he's in a morally difficult situation.  How would he feel if someone got hurt?  He could also get himself injured and/or banned.  Don't expect the system to help; it's under-resourced.

Answer 18

take it to the police and have a safety check done. Do you have state inspection where you live.

Answer 19

ITS BEST IF YOU CONTACT YOUR LOCAL (DMV) DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES OFFICE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY AND ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL BE GETTING THE CORRECT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

Answer 20

phone crimestoppers or go to your local police station, this is a crime so dont be afraid, if your friend goes to the police and tells them his fears before the police come to him and put points on his licence, it could save his life. as well as his workmates. and innocent victims

also look for an employer that values its employees, you cant make short cuts on health and saftey