The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) is responsible for the management and maintenance of 208 lighthouses and 174 buoys and beacons around Scotland and the Isle of Man. It also employs around 170 drivers who operate commercial vehicles and grey fleet cars for its vital safety service. However, the NLB faced some challenges in ensuring the safety and compliance of its drivers, especially in remote and harsh environments. That is why it partnered with TTC, a road safety expert, to introduce a comprehensive driver risk management solution. The results were impressive: a 40% reduction in fleet incidents and a significant gain in management time and efficiency.
A Risk Assessment for Every Driver
The first step of the partnership was to conduct a 40-point risk assessment for every employee driving on behalf of NLB. This enabled the NLB to identify potential risky driving behaviour and knowledge gaps, and provide eLearning based on the needs of individual employees. The assessment will be repeated every two years, allowing the NLB to better monitor and manage driver risk and improve safety for its employees and those they serve.
Trish Donaldson, Compliance Officer at the Northern Lighthouse Board, said: “This enabled us to identify potential risky driving behaviour and knowledge gaps, and provide eLearning based on the needs of individual employees. The assessment will be repeated every two years, allowing us to better monitor and manage driver risk and improve safety for our employees and those they serve.”
Relevant Training Courses for Drivers
In addition to the risk assessment and eLearning, TTC also provided relevant training courses for NLB drivers, such as defensive driving, eco-driving, and winter driving. These courses helped the drivers to develop their skills and awareness of the importance of being a responsible driver. The training also supported the NLB’s environmental and sustainability goals, as it reduced fuel consumption and emissions.
Lynn Armstrong, Human Resources Manager at the Northern Lighthouse Board, said: “In addition to ticking the compliance and risk assessment boxes, TTC’s training supports NLB drivers with relevant training courses. This provides a holistic approach to always keeping our drivers safe.”
Automated Licence Checking and Continuum Platform
Another benefit of the partnership was the automation of licence checking with TTC. This significantly improved efficiencies and NLB regained almost three working weeks of time. Non-UK licences were also automatically checked and verified for compliance. The licence checks and regular eLearning were available to employees through TTC’s end-to-end driver risk management tool, Continuum, which also sent prompts to manage outstanding driver tasks.
Jim Kirkwood, CEO of TTC, commented: “Working together we are helping NLB to not only meet its statutory requirements but also radically reduce the chances of its employees being involved in dangerous incidents while on the move. As an end-to-end solution, TTC actively provides intervention solutions, rather than just identifying problems: Continuum highlights issues when they arise and puts training in place to develop skills and greater understanding of the importance of being a responsible driver.”
A Win-Win Partnership for Safety and Efficiency
The partnership between NLB and TTC has been a win-win situation for both parties. NLB has achieved a 40% reduction in fleet incidents, improved driver safety and compliance, and gained management time and efficiency. TTC has demonstrated its expertise and capability in delivering a comprehensive driver risk management solution for a challenging and diverse fleet. Both parties look forward to developing their partnership further in the future, bringing more benefits to NLB and its employees, and strengthening its ability to conduct vital safety services as a general lighthouse authority.
