Skip navigation 
Previous Page
3
NEWS
February/March 2014 • www.esb.ie/em
Launch of ESB Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020: Our Journey to Excellence
This strategy is a seven-year programme and builds on two successful cross company safe driving programmes which have been delivered since 2004; both have brought about a significant improvement in the road safety culture in ESB. The strategy was launched on December 5th, 2013 in the Corporate Centre, ESB Head Office by Tony Merriman, Worker Director and Chairman of the ESB Board Health, Safety and Environment Committee.
AT HIS OPENING, Tony Merriman welcomed everyone to the event and in particular the two guest speakers, Michael Rowland Director Road Safety, Research and Driver Education of the Road Safety Authority and Deirdre Sinnott McFeat, Senior Policy Inspector with the HSA. Tony stated that driving or road use being the second highest safety risk factor after electricity for ESB. Tony went on to say that we needed to give ownership of Road Safety to the drivers of the vehicles and of his particular interest in the benefits of Advanced Driver training which offers us “a safer way of driving”.
In the HSA presentation, Deirdre Sinnott McFeat reported that almost half of all reported workplace deaths involve a vehicle and that “the biggest national risk in everyday working life is being involved in a vehicle-related incident”. Deirdre also spoke of the myriad of risks associated with working on or near roads.
Michael Rowland outlined Ireland's Road Safety Strategy to 2020 and said “speed is still the No. 1 killer behaviour but 17% of those killed on our roads in 2012 were also not wearing seatbelts”. Michael raised the fact that “inexperienced drivers of up to two years after getting their licence are a particular vulnerable group”. 190 people were killed on our roads in 2013, which was the first increase in road deaths since 2005 and shows the ever-present requirement to be vigilant in relation to Road Safety risks.
He also emphasised that’ ‘everybody has a responsibility, whether you're driving for work at ESB, a cyclist or motorcyclist... it's about meshing responsibilities together for the optimum outcome”. Risk factors are not exclusive, legacy roads, inexperienced drivers, an increase in motorcyclists and pedestrians, all contribute to risk on our roads.
Conal Bonnar, Manager, Fleet and Technical Training, who presented on the detail of the ESB Road Safety Strategy outlined that ESB is endeavouring to prevent vehicle related harm to our staff, contractors and members of the public. ESB is also trying to use our influence as a leading Irish employer to continue to support the national road safety agenda of extending road safety to the families of staff and the wider community. This strategy therefore sets a stretching target of becoming “A National Exemplar in Road Safety Excellence and will achieve zero faults incidents and collisions” This Strategy will engage both drivers of commercial (yellow fleet) and private drivers for ESB and sets the competence standard for all at Advanced Driver level. This programme will also have initiatives for inexperienced drivers and other vulnerable road users.
To achieve the objectives of this seven-year programme, we will require the full engagement of leadership, management and staff. It is critical that all of us work together to ensure the road safety of all staff, contractors, our families and the wider community.
Early in 2014 all ESB staff will be made aware of the detail in the Road Safety Strategy and a commitment sought from all staff to engage with this strategy. The following key initiatives will commence during the year:
- Wide communication of the programme and identification of Road Safety Champions across the business
- Leadership commitment across all functions of ESB to ensure the delivery of the programme and oversight of KPIs
- All staff to complete Advanced Driver training by end of 2015 and the roll out of a Young Driver training programme
- Focus on Driver Distraction including mobile phone use
- Use of the Fleet Management System information to improve driver behaviours
- Launch of External Support partner to enhance delivery of strategy
ESB Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020: Our Journey to Excellence can be viewed online at http://esbnet/esbroadsafetybureau. For more information email esbroadsafetybureau@esb.ie or visit the ESB Road Safety Bureau website: http://esbnet/esbroadsafe-tybureau.
ESB to host EPRI's 2014 International Technology Innovation Summit
AT THE RECENT Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Innovation Conference in New York, John McSweeney, Head of Innovation, ESB gave a keynote address. John highlighted how Ireland is leading the way in terms of the integration of renewables and in the development of one of the smartest electricity networks in Europe. At the event it was announced that Dublin would be the venue for the 2014 EPRI International Technology Innovation Summit based on ESB's successful partnership with EPRI over the past five years as well as the company's track record in the deployment of smart energy technologies.
This is an honour for ESB and Ireland with more than 70 leaders from US and European utilities attending this prestigious conference in Dublin from 3rd -5th June 2014. The event will be organised by ESB in conjunction with EPRI.
EPRI is the largest US research organisation involved in R&D and demonstration projects that are helping to shape the power system of the future. The organisation is also the main advisor on energy policy to the Obama Administration.
Great Electric Drive
Following its initial successes, the Great Electric Drive is back for a second year. We are looking for 24 members of the general public and businesses with different lifestyles and commutes to join a new team of ecar ambassadors. This year is bigger and better with a larger range of cars featuring the BMW i3, the Citroen C-Zero, the Mitsubishi iMiEV, the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid SUV, the Nissan Euro LEAF, the Renault ZOE, and a Renault Kangoo Z.E. commercial electric van. The ambassadors will trial an electric car for a period of four months in return for their commentary on their electric driving experiences.
Whilst the trial is not open to members or family of staff, please remember to encourage your friends to apply as the closing date for applications is March 4th! Ask them to go to our website www.esb.ie/GreatElectricDrive and fill out either the Private Motorist or Commercial Motorist application form or alternatively they can apply through our facebook page www.facebook.com/ESBecars.
Dermot McArdle, Head of ecars ESB, pictured with Gillian Talbot and family at the launch.
