What is FORS and why is it for you?
1. STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
If you were a transport buyer required to choose between two operators, who would you appoint? Would you select the one whose safety record and environmental practices you knew nothing of? Or the one whose FORS accreditation proved a commitment to good practice in all aspects of the business, including road safety, sustainability issues and many other aspects of corporate social responsibility? Who’s going to win the new business? It’s a no-brainer for the transport buyer.
2. IMPROVE YOUR ROAD SAFETY RECORD
Dedicated FORS Professional training equips your managers and drivers with the skills and knowledge to improve their work related road safety and to reduce the risk of collisions with other motor vehicles and, crucially, vulnerable road users.
Become FORS accredited and access safety specific tool, guides and training courses, that help you improve your work related road safety. FORS accreditation can lead to insurance premium reduction.
3. REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION; INCREASE EFFICIENCY
FORS Professional provides classroom training and eLearning modules for managers and drivers covering environmental best practice. FORS also provides best practice toolkits helping to put you one step ahead of the competition. Expert advice on the latest technologies and systems will provide tangible efficiencies. Dedicated driver training will promote defensive, more economic driving, leading to reduced fuel costs. FORS accreditation can lead to insurance premium reduction.
4. ENSURE COMPLIANCE
Make use of FORS Affinity Partner products to meet your legal obligations and ensure you remain compliant with the FORS Standard. FORS Fleet Management System, powered by FleetCheck, delivers a comprehensive platform enabling complete vehicle, driver and organisation management. Operators have a duty-of-care by law to check their drivers’ competency and capability. FORS Driver Licence Checking Service, delivered in partnership with Licence Bureau Limited, provides preferential rates to members.
5. GREATER INDUSTRY ‘KNOW-HOW’ AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
With fortnightly eNews, monthly training eNews and a regular magazine, FORS members receive insider knowledge on how the scheme is changing the industry and where potential opportunities lie for you. Through funded and discounted FORS Professional training, managers and drivers will have the chance to meet, swap tips and network with other industry professionals.
The following is a list of the FORS safety equipment required for vehicles over 3.5T for each level of FORS accreditation Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Bronze Requirements
- Class V and VI mirrors
- Side under-run protection fitted on both sides of the vehicle
- Warning signage fitted to the rear of the vehicle to warn vulnerable road users about getting too close to the vehicle
Silver Requirements
- Left turn audible alerts
Verbally communicating the danger to warn vulnerable road users when the vehicle is about to make a left turn (eg ‘Warning this vehicle is turning left’) - Reverse audible alert
Communicating the danger to warn vulnerable road users when the vehicle is about to reverse, (this can be white noise) engages automatically when the vehicle is in reverse - A combination of direct and indirect vision aids (indirect vision aids would be cameras and mirrors. Direct vision aids would be Fresnel lenses or a low-level window in the nearside cab door.) These ensure front, side and rear blind-spots are eliminated or minimised as far as is practical/possible.
Camera Monitor Systems Mounted at the front near side of the vehicle facing backwards looking down the side of the vehicle. Covers blind spots you can’t see in the mirror. Images are transmitted to a monitor in the cab showing the camera view down the left side of the vehicle.Ultrasonic Obstacle Detection a sensor system which increases safety when turning left or low-speed manoeuvring which is both an audible beeper and visual led alert mounted inside the diver’s cab.
Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes
In addition, a reverse camera transmitting the view behind the vehicle to a monitor in the cab, should also be fitted to the rear of rigid vehicles over 7.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight.
There is no additional equipment required for FORS Gold accreditation.
If you need advice about how your vehicles can become FORS complaint please call us on 02476 726618 and we will do our best to help you and your fleet.
The Standard and specific requirements
The FORS Standard sets out the requirements you need to meet in order to attain and maintain your accreditation. There are four key areas to the FORS Standard: Management, Vehicles, Drivers, and Operations
Bus and coach operators must meet all of the requirements of the FORS Standard relevant to their level of accreditation; however, there are some specific requirements for bus and coach operators:
Vehicles - V5.2 Load safety for PCV
Requirement
To load vehicles and trailers safely and within the legal limits.
Purpose
To ensure that luggage and vehicle equipment are restrained and within the vehicle weight limits so that they do not endanger the driver, any passengers or other road users.
Demonstration
FORS operators shall have a policy, equipment, training and documentation in place for safe stowage. The policy shall include:
- Safe stowage of passenger luggage and ancillary vehicle items
- Compliance with stowage documentation such as risk assessments and method statements
- Correct trailer types for any luggage or cargo to be carried
- Safe coupling of trailers to towing vehicles
Where relevant, the stowage documentation shall include:
- Vehicle gross, and axle weight limits
- Maximum passenger carrying capacity
- Luggage distribution and restraint in the stowage area
- Luggage distribution and restraint on-board including access to emergency exits
- Location and restraint of ancillary equipment
- Location and restraint of accessibility equipment
- Any other special precautions that are necessary
The correct equipment shall be issued to maintain safe loads.
Maximum passenger and luggage weight limits should be considered.
If the overall vehicle height is 9 feet 10 inches (three metres) or above, a height indicator shall be displayed in the cab showing the overall height of the vehicle and load in feet and inches.
Documentation, records, risk assessments and data relevant to stowage shall be:
- Documented and reviewed in accordance with requirement M1
- Retained in accordance with requirement M2
- Communicated in accordance with requirement M5
- Included in the health and safety policy in accordance with requirement M8
- Included in Professional Development Plans in accordance with requirement D4
Vehicles - V6 Vehicle safety equipment
To fit larger vehicles with safety equipment that helps protect vulnerable road users.
Demonstration
FORS operators shall ensure that HGVs and vehicles designed to carry more than 16 passengers are fitted with blind spot warning signage.
Blind spot warning signage shall be fitted:
- Prominently to the rear of the vehicle
- To visually warn other road users of the near-side close proximity blind spot hazard
- So as not to cause offence to other road users
- So they are clearly visible to other road users
Blindspot warning signage should not give instruction or direction to other road users.
Safety equipment designed to reduce the risk of close-proximity collisions involving vulnerable road users such as side-under-run protection and Class V and VI close proximity mirrors is not a requirement for operators of vehicles designed to carry more than 16 passengers.
FORS VEHICLE SAFETY PACKAGES
Included in this kit
- 1 X 7″ Dashboard Monitor
- 1 x Single Night Vision Camera
- Left Turn Interface
- Night Vision Rear Camera
The following, high quality/specification, cameras and monitors are combined to produce the ideal system, whether for safety/FORS/CLOCS compliance or to meet other operational requirements.
- Contributes to the requirements of FORS/CLOCS
- Reduce nearside vehicle damage
- Prevents collisions with cyclists
- Prevents side collisions
- Provides a full side view of the trailer when reversing
- Prevents reversing collisions with people, property or vehicles
- Reduces vehicle damage to the rear
- Can potentially reduce insurance premiums
- Assist safe and easier manoeuvring
- An improvement over standard mirrors
- Reduce drivers from being attacked
- False insurance claims for compensation reduced
Included in this kit
- 1 x 7″ Dashboard Monitor
- 1 x Single Heavy Duty Camera
- 1 x Blind Spot Camera
- Signal Indicator Switch
- Night Silent Double Engage Reverse Alarm
- Audible Alarm (This vehicle is turning left)
- 1 x 3 Sensor Step Detection System
- 1 x Camera Connection Cable (Artic Vehicles ONLY)
The following, high quality/specification, cameras and monitors are combined to produce the ideal system, whether for safety/FORS/CLOCS compliancy or to meet other operational requirements.
- Contributes to the requirements of FORS/CLOCS
- Reduce nearside vehicle damage
- Prevents collisions with cyclists
- Prevents side collisions
- Provides a full side view of the trailer when reversing
- Prevents reversing collisions with people, property or vehicles
- Reduces vehicle damage to the rear
- Can potentially reduce insurance premiums
- Assist safe and easier manoeuvring
- An improvement over standard mirrors
- Reduce drivers from being attacked
- False insurance claims for compensation reduced
Included in this kit
- 1 x 7″ Dashboard Monitor
- 1 x Single Heavy Duty Camera
- 2 x Blind Spot Camera
- 1 x Signal Indicator Switch
- 1 x Night Silent Double Engage Reverse Alarm
- 1 x Audible Alarm (This vehicle is turning left)
- 1 x 3 Sensor step detection system
- 1 x Adjustable Universal Camera
- 1 x 4 Channel Digital Video Recorder
- 1 x 1TB Hard Drive
- 1 x Camera Connection Cable (Artic Vehicle ONLY)
The following, high quality/specification, cameras and monitors are combined to produce the ideal system, whether for safety/FORS/CLOCS compliance or to meet other operational requirements.
- Contributes to the requirements of FORS/CLOCS
- Reduce nearside vehicle damage
- Prevents collisions with cyclists
- Prevents side collisions
- Provides a full side view of the trailer when reversing
- Prevents reversing collisions with people, property or vehicles
- Reduces vehicle damage to the rear
- Can potentially reduce insurance premiums
- Assist safe and easier manoeuvring
- An improvement over standard mirrors
- Reduce drivers from being attacked
- False insurance claims for compensation reduced
How do I find out more about FORS packages?
Call neatcom today on 02476 726618 or if you have specific question email us at info@neatcom.co.uk.