Vehicle Safety Check Training Click this button to Start and then the arrow keys on the keyboard

Course Objectives By the end of this training presentation you should be able to: State who is responsible for minor and major vehicle maintenance. State the Employers duties regarding Company Vehicles Have a clear understanding on each safety check.

Who is responsible? Minor Maintenance / Repairs: The following is consider minor maintenance / repairs: tracking, tyre change, blown lights bulbs Replacement wipers Top up fluids The responsibility for correcting the issue falls with the department where the vehicles are allocated. Major Maintenance / Repairs: Major maintenance / repairs e.g. cracked window screen, washer jets not working should be reported to and booked in with the company approved car repair

When completing the Vehicle Safety Checks, you must ensure of the following: If a problem is identified and it can be rectified, this should be done immediately, e.g. air needed in tyres, oil needed, water top up etc. -The departments petty cash should facilitate buying oil etc. If something more serious is needed, for example, a battery or new windscreen – please make sure this is reported via to the department manager and Issues should not be handed across to colleagues to deal with! If you are unable to carry out any maintenance, please inform the manager. All corrective action should be recorded. This helps identify if there is an ongoing problem e.g. oil or water needing topping up every week will likely mean there is a leak.

Employers Duty Employers and duty holders must make sure that vehicles used in the workplace are: safe, driven safely, and regularly maintained, repaired and inspected.

Vehicle Safety Checklist

When checking the Fuel Cap, there must be a minimum of 2 stickers. These should be located on the inside and the outside of the fuel flap. Fuel Cap Stickers

When checking the Oil level, the following steps must be taken: Step 1 - Engine must be cold and switched off. The car should be parked on level ground.... Step 2 - Locate Dipstick. Open the bonnet and look for the dipstick - this should be brightly coloured and easy to find!... Step 3 - Clean Dipstick. Use your cloth to wipe the oil off the dipstick.... Step 4 - Check Oil Level.... Step 5 - Top Up Oil (correct type) If the level reads under ½ then please top up until it reaches full on dip stick. Be careful not to over fill the oil. Don’t forget to replace cap! Oil Level

When checking the Water level (anti-freeze and coolant) the vehicle must be cold! Simply look at the level of water in the reservoir ensuring the water level is between the minimum and maximum markers, preferably nearer to the maximum. If low, remove cap and top up with water. Ensure the cap is shut tight! Water level

How To Check the Car Battery Check the condition of the cars battery, its terminals and clamps. If corroded, these may need cleaning and should be taken to the approved car repair garage. Battery

How To Check the Car Brake Fluid Look at the fluid level on the brake fluid reservoir ensuring the fluid level is between the minimum and maximum markers, preferably nearer to the maximum. If you find yourself having to replace the brake fluid, this may be a sign that there is a problem with the brakes. The vehicle should be booked in to a garage immediately! Brake Fluid

How to Check the Footbrake: 1.Check the footbrake is firm and doesn’t drop to floor when stationary. 2.Drive the car back and forward to ensure the car stops. Footbrake

How to Check the handbrake: 1.Check the handbrake is fully engaged. 2.Test the operation of the Handbrake by pulling away slowly and applying it gently to make sure that it slows the car. Requires Adjustment: When you pull up the handbrake count the clicks. There should be around 6 clicks before it is fully engaged. If there is excessive travel or hardly any travel in the handbrake then it may need adjusting at the garage. Handbrake

How to Check the Horn: Simply press the Horn ensuring it makes a sound. Horn

The washer jets should be spraying directly on both the passenger and drivers side of the window. To check the washer levels simply look at the fluid level on the washer reservoir ensuring the fluid level is topped up to the maximum marker. When refilling, the water should be diluted with required amount of screen wash solution as indicated on the bottle. Washer Jets

Maintaining the wiper blades: 1.Clean by running a cloth along the blades removing any dirt. 2.Check the blade for breakages / damage. 3.Check that they clear the water when testing the washer jets. Wipers

How To Check the Vehicle lights: Parking lights: Turn the light switch to the first position to test. Headlights: Turn the light switch to the next position to test. Full beam: Pull back the head light lever. Test for constant and flash. Rear lights: Should be on when the parking and headlights are on. Rear brake lights: Ideally a second person is needed. If not possible. parking where the rear car lights can be seen in a reflection or close to a wall can help. Number plate lights: Normally 2, check these are lit when headlights are on. Lights

1.Check that both left and right indicators work individually by the activating the indicator switch. 2.Check the Hazard lights by activating the Hazard light switch Ensure to check the front, side and rear indicators. Indicators

Check all reflectors to ensure they are not broken. Reflectors

Check both front and rear number plates ensuring they are not broken, faded and that all letters and numbers can be clearly seen. Number Plates

How To Check Tyre Conditions Check both sides of the tyre, check the inside and outside of the tyre wall by visually checking and running your hand along the wall of the tyre. Advisory: Vinyl gloves should be worn. If there are signs of any Cuts, Splits or Bulge / Swelling on tyre wall, the tyre will need to be replaced. Tyre Condition

To ensure the tyre has sufficient pressure a tyre pressure gauge should be used. If this is unavailable then the vehicle should be taken to a local fuel station where the tyres can be checked and pumped up if required. Continued… Tyre Pressure

The tyre pressure is different for every vehicle, the correct tyre pressure can often be found in the door opening or the fuel cap of the vehicle. If this cant be found either check the vehicle manual or go online here: Continued… Tyre Pressure - continued

If the tyre is unevenly worn on the inside, middle or outside of the tyre then this is an indication that either: a)The tyre does not have the correct tyre pressure – see image below. b)There is a problem with the wheel alignment and the tracking is out. Below is an example of a correctly inflated tyre. Tyre Pressure - continued

How To Check the Tyre Depth Turn the steering wheel full lock to the right and leave in this position – switch engine off! To ensure the tyre has sufficient tyre tread, a Tyre Tread Gauge should be used to record the amount of tread remaining on the tyre. The reading should be recorded here for each tyre e.g. 5mm Continued… Tyre Depth

The tyre should be checked at 3 points of contact: A)Inside B)Middle C)Outside. The average reading should be recorded. Tyre Depth - continued The measurement should only be taken from the primary grooves. You might find secondary grooves within the central ¾, and they may be below the required minimum tread depth requirements. This is OK, provided the primary grooves meet the minimum depth requirements. The tread pattern outside of the central ¾ of the breadth of the tread can be bald. However, caution should be taken as this may indicate a problem. Continued…

As per the guidance from Matters of Testing (MOT), The tread pattern outside of the central ¾ of the breadth of the tread can be bald. However, depending on its severity, caution should be taken. If the tyre is unevenly worn on the inside or outside of the tyre and the pressure is correct then this is an indication that the tracking may be out and should be checked by a Professional Tyre Garage with a laser wheel alignment (tracking) facility. Please contact for approved Continued… Tyre Depth - continued

If the tyre gauge is unavailable then please refer to the Tread Wear Indicators (as shown on the diagram below) to assess whether there is sufficient tread on the tyre. The legal limit is 1.6mm however our policy is to change them at 2.6mm. Tread Wear Indicators If the tread is level with the Tread Wear Indicators then the tyre should be changed immediately. Tyre Depth - continued

How To Check the Vehicle Wheel Nuts: A visual check is sufficient. However, where possible please check that they are finger tight. A tool / wrench is not required. If concerned, use the car wrench located with the car jack and then take the vehicle to a tyre specialist to check the torque. Wheel Nuts

1.Check that there are enough copies. 2.Check they are being used and all sections are being completed. 3.When the mileage log is near full. Please send to Head office along with the fuel receipts. Mileage Form

Check that there is a copy in the mileage folder located in the car. Insurance Certificate

Finally, Check the contents of the Emergency Pack: Hazard Triangle First Aid Kit Latex Gloves Emergency High Visibility Vest x 2 Note Pad and Pen Tyre Pressure Gauge Tyre Tread Depth Gauge Fire Extinguisher Torch Emergency blanket x 2 2 x Gloves 2 x hat If anything is missing, please arrange a replacement. Emergency Pack

When the vehicle safety checklist has been completed, the original should be kept in the Unit Vehicle folder located in the office for inspection purposes. A scanned copy must then be sent to for auditing and inspection Completed Safety Checks

TEST Training Questions are on next page. There is no time limit. You can refer back to the training. Pass rate is 100% Please submit your answers on the Vehicle Safety Check Test Sheet. When complete please to

Test Questions 1. Who is responsible for minor vehicle maintenance? a. The department where the vehicle is allocated to b. Head Office c. Management 2. When completing the Vehicle Safety Checks, you must ensure that any problems identified are dealt with: a. Immediately b. within 12hours c. within 24hours 3. All corrective action should be: a. Monitored b. Recorded c. Ignored 4. Employers and duty holders must make sure that vehicles used in the workplace are: a. Safe, driven, and repaired b. Driven safely, Maintained and inspected c. Safe, driven safely and regularly maintained, repaired and inspected.

Test Questions 5. When checking the Oil level, the following steps must be taken: a. Engine must be hot, oil level must be above 1/2, replace oil cap. b. Engine must be cold, oil level topped up to maximum on dip stick, replace oil cap. c. Engine must be cold, oil level topped up till it’s over flowing. 6. When checking the Water level (anti-freeze and coolant) the vehicle must be: a. Hot, when finished cap is shut tight. b. Warm, when finished cap is shut tight. c. Cold, when finished cap is shut tight. 7. The washer jets should be spraying: a. directly on both the passenger and drivers side of the window. b. on the driver’s side c. on the passenger’s side 8. If there are signs of any Cuts, Splits or Bulge / Swelling on tyre wall, the tyre will need to be: a. Replaced. b. Changed within 48hours. c. Changed at the next service.

Test Questions 9. If the tyre is unevenly worn on the inside, middle or outside of the tyre then this is an indication is a problem with either: a. The tyre being old and having the incorrect pressure. b. The tyre not having the correct tyre pressure or problem with the wheel alignment. c. The tyre being the wrong size 10. The tyre tread measurement should only be taken from the: a. Primary grooves. b. Secondary grooves. c. The middle. 11. The legal limit for the tyre tread measurement is 1.6mm however our policy is to change them at: a. 1.6mm b. 2.6mm c. 3.6mm 12. If anything is missing from the emergency pack, you must: a. Leave this to the next person b. Inform management c. Arrange a replacement.

Test Questions 13. When the vehicle safety checklist has been completed, the original should be: a. sent to the DVLA. b. kept in the Unit Vehicle folder located in the office for inspection purposes and a copy sent to c. sent to management. Please send answer sheet to Pass rate is 100%