Safe Work Practice
CELL PHONE / ELECTRONIC DEVICE USE WHILE DRIVING
Date of preparation: November 2012 Date of last revision:
Hazards Present:- Distractions
- Loss of control of vehicle
- MVA Crash / flip
- Multiple injuries
- Death
- Hands-free device
- Appropriate license classification & insurance
- ParaMed Safe Driving training
- On-the-Road Safety Policy
- SWP for Driving and Traveling
Monitoring System:Annual drivers abstract
Safe Work Practices:
- Do not use any hand-held device or electronic device while driving
- Keep your hands on the wheel.
- If talking on the phone while driving is unavoidable, use a Bluetooth device or earpiece with a build in microphone, or with another type of hands free device.
- Although voice activation and functions of handheld devices are permitted under provincial legislation, communication should be kept to a minimum and where possible continued later at a more convenient time.
- If there is no “hands-free” device available, do not use the communication device until the vehicle is pulled over to the side of the road in a legal and safe location and is in a stopped and parking engaged position.
- While driving, refrain from conducting “distracted driver practices” such as personal grooming, eating a meal, the manipulation of electronic devices, reading printed material, watching entertainment devices, and using a music device such as an i-pod or MP3 player.
- Review and follow ParaMed’s Safe Work Practice for Driving and Traveling available at or on ParaMed’s esite at
Guidance Documents / Standards / Applicable Legislation
- Provincial Legislation:
Ontario's ban on hand-held devices while driving took effect on October 26, 2009. The law makes it illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices. The law also prohibits drivers from viewing display screens unrelated to the driving task, such as laptops or DVD players, while driving.The penalty is a minimum fine of $155.
The use of hands-free devices is still permitted, and drivers may use hand-held devices to call 9-1-1. 'Hands-free' use means that apart from activating or deactivating the device, it is not held during use and the driver is not physically interacting with or manipulating it. Actions such as dialing or scrolling through contacts, or manually programming a GPS device, for example, are not allowed.
Alberta
Albert’s distracted driving law came into effect September 2, 2011. Restricts drivers from:
- Using hand-held cell phones
- Texting or e-mailing
- Using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (e.g., MP3 players)
- Entering information on GPS units
- Reading printed materials in the vehicle
- Writing, printing or sketching, and
- Personal grooming
Applies to all vehicles as defined by the Traffic Safety Act, including bicycles
Applies to all roads in both urban and rural areas of the province
The fine for this new offence is $172
- ParaMed OH&S Management Manual policies on the esite at
- Publications on Road Safety available from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation website .
Other Resources:
- Additional information may be obtained by contacting your local chapter of the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and your local Police Department.
This Safe Work Practice will be reviewed at least annually and after any significant incident.
CELL PHONE / ELECTRONIC DEVICE WHILE DRIVING
SWP REVIEW & SIGN OFF
ParaMed Centre: ______
Review Date: ______Reviewed by:
JOHSC Representatives
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Management
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Review Date: ______
Reviewed by:
JOHSC Representatives
Names Signatures:
Management
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Review Date: ______
Reviewed by:
JOHSC Representatives
Names Signatures:
Management
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Review Date: ______
Reviewed by:
JOHSC Representatives
Names Signatures:
Management
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