The carbon footprint caused by the highways maintenance sector is being calculated by the Highways Term Maintenance Association (HTMA).

The study by the environmental working group of the HTMA is one of a number of initiatives the association is looking to address before its conference in November.

"The group is looking at the carbon footprint of the maintenance market and how climate change will affect our operations" said HTMA chairman Keith Jackson. "On climate change, we are looking at what impacts there will be on drainage from higher than anticipated rainfalls and the impacts on winter maintenance."

"With the carbon footprint, although we can't cover every area, we will be looking at the efficiencies of our [members'] offices, gully cleaning, and surface dressing activities."

As part of the work from the HTMA's safety forum working group, it has been determined that working on underground services was a major cause of RIDDOR events.

"This activity, which results in accidents caused by hitting underground cables, is by far the highest cause of problems from the data supplied by our members," said HTMA safety forum sponsor Phil Bridge. "As a result, we have set up best practice standards for our members, which includes ensuring that you don't dig without plans of underground utilities."

"This is a good example of spreading best practice across the industry. Now, through the data provided by members [on a non attributable basis], we can monitor not just accidents, but also underground services and whether people are working without plans."

Jackson also revealed that the HTMA was drawing up a "consistent" drugs and alcohol policy across its membership, although this would not involve a zero-tolerance blanket approach.

"The highways maintenance sector is becoming more like the rail industry, which is very hot on drugs and alcohol policies" he said. "There are some discrepancies, although this is not to say anyone is right or wrong."

Jackson said one of the measures the HTMA might introduce is the determination of what constitutes a "safety-critical role" in the workplace.