New FORS standard tackles air quality and terrorism

FORS published its latest standard at its annual members’ conference held yesterday (16 October) in Birmingham.

The latest edition - version five - addresses the need for air quality improvements and sets out how operators in the scheme can guard against terrorism.

The FORS standard is updated every two years in a bid to drive-up safety, environmental, and efficiency standards of members.

FORS director, John Hix, said: “FORS has always been committed to promoting continuous best practice, both in the progressive nature of our accreditation, and in the way we work to ensure our requirements remain relevant."

“The FORS standard is not a static document, because best-practice is not static. The FORS standard must respond to emerging best practice and new legislation, which affect members, and the feedback of members themselves.”

Bronze, silver, gold

For the first time, Bronze members must have a policy in place that names a counter terrorism champion. They must also have completed the FORS professional security and counter terrorism eLearning module within 24 months prior to audit.

At silver and gold, there is added emphasis on lessening environmental impact with a new requirement at silver for HGV and van drivers to complete the FORS Professional LoCITY – Time to clean up eLearning module 24 months prior to accreditation.

FORS silver also includes a commitment to tackle noise pollution - a criteria formally only mandated for FORS gold.  Operators seeking FORS silver must complete noise assessments at operating centres and minimise noise pollution.

FORS silver accreditation is also fully aligned to meet TfL's requirements for managing work-related road risk and the CLOCS version three, which is due to come into force in January 2019.

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FORS has also introduced a requirement at gold for drivers to have completed either the FORS professional LoCITY driving training course, or a FORS approved environmental awareness course within the past five years.

This is in addition to the current requirement to have attended a safe urban driving course.

The standard becomes effective from Monday 14 January 2019.