Employers in Lincolnshire are being urged to make sure their workers who drive for a living stay safe.

The county's Road Safety Partnership wants businesses to take on board the message that tiredness can kill.

Companies must now have thorough procedures to ensure employees do not drive in an unfit state.

The Corporate Manslaughter Act, which came into effect in April last year, means organisations could be prosecuted if their drivers cause a fatal crash.

And to drive home this message the road safety partnership is inviting businesses to a free half-day conference at the Epic Centre, at the Lincolnshire Showground, from 9.30am to 1.30pm on Wednesday, May 27.

Keynote speakers are Professor Jim Horn, a sleep deprivation specialist from Loughborough University, and Michael Oko, a consultant specialist at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston.

The event aims to clearly spell out the risks of tiredness for people who drive as part of their working day, while also assisting businesses to develop training and policies to avoid any legal wrangles.

Spokesman for the Road Safety Partnership Brian Burns said managing occupational road risk includes all aspects of the use of vehicles at work and covers policy, drivers, journeys, training and the vehicles used.

"This is now a legal obligation that businesses with five or more employees have to meet," he said.

For more information call the road safety partnership on (01522) 805800.

For more on the Corporate Manslaughter Act and the free conference, see Tuesday's Echo.