DNV’s history dates back to 1864 when it was founded in Oslo. Its purpose is to safeguard life, property, and the environment. They deliver world renowned testing, certification and technical advisory services to the energy value chain, including renewable energy, oil and gas. The company operates in over 100 countries with over 15,000 employees and is a leading classification society and advisor for the maritime industry. IAM RoadSmart have been delivering ‘Driving for Work’ courses to them since 2016.
We spoke with Lee Ellis, the training manager within DNV’s Energy Systems department.
How important is driver training to the business?
It is vital for maintaining our reputation and showing that we care about our employees’ safety and that of other people on the road.
It’s also important to us that we demonstrate safe driving to the public and the local villages around our remote Spadeadam site, especially with around 85 pool vehicles passing through these areas daily.
Lee Ellis, DNV Training Manager
How many of your drivers have received IAM RoadSmart training?
Since our partnership with IAM RoadSmart started in 2016, 417 drivers have gone through the training. Everybody that drives a vehicle, we put through the IAM RoadSmart ‘Driving for Work’ course. This includes our managers and senior managers who drive company cars.
DNV provides its own internal driver training which is mandatory for all employees. However, although it’s very detailed, it is an online driving course. In order to go one step further and to really ensure that our drivers do understand the roads and different requirements, it’s obviously much better to put them into a practical environment which is what the IAM RoadSmart course does.
Has driver training produced immediate results for you?
On a couple of occasions, it’s highlighted that we might need to put some drivers through further training, so that’s definitely a result of the training. It’s also highlighted really good practices that we’re keen to share within the company. I think that the identification of both areas for improvement and good practices can be seen as quite immediate feedback from the training process.
What are the advantages of IAM RoadSmart driver training to DNV?
Drivers who are driving sensibly and paying attention due to the training contributes to a better public image for DNV and, crucially, makes people think about safety when they get into a vehicle. If you’re investing in your drivers’ development, it can boost morale and it can boost job satisfaction. In the long term, the driver training will save downtime by potentially preventing incidents that could occur without such training.
Overall, the IAM RoadSmart training reinforces DNV’s commitment regarding health and safety, something we want to demonstrate on a daily basis.
IAM RoadSmart is the UK’s leading independent road safety charity, providing driver training and risk management tools for business fleets. To learn more about how we can help you enhance your fleet, contact us.
