Sustainability Strategy Commitments

UKOOA Sustainability Strategy 2002 - First Report 2. Social Sustainability 2.1 Safety and working conditions   Commitment No. 22 - Workforce safety: industry/workforce engagement Achieving the safety improvements, to which the industry has committed itself, requires commitment and active participation at all levels and from all sectors within the industry.  While cross-industry involvement in safety has increased significantly since the start of Step Change, there are parts of the industry which could take this further.  We are, therefore, endeavouring to expand safety networks into these areas, to identify role models and encourage wider workforce participation to achieve true cross-industry involvement. Progress to date : achievements and difficulties encountered This is seen as a very important part of achieving a step change in safety.  While the commitment to safety has to start at and be led from the top, the active involvement of supervision and the workforce is essential in its delivery, using role models and wider participation by the workforce.  Various networks have been established: Offshore Installation Managers; elected, offshore Safety Representatives; safety professionals/advisers;  well construction safety leadership group (includes drilling, well maintenance and related services); southern North Sea workforce involvement network; leadership team of Step Change in Safety. In addition to the events mentioned above, cross industry seminars have been organised for well construction personnel in August 2001, supervisors in November 2001 and a two day industry exhibition and health fair in May 2002.  Key initiatives identified by these networks, such as Permit to Work and lifeboat loading/launching best practices,  are being developed through dedicated work groups, with guidance from the Step Change support team. The Vantage safety passport is being introduced widely across the industry.  This card carries each employees particulars, skills and safety training and monitors offshore visits and movements. BOX: The Safety Path Forward was developed by ExxonMobil to improve safety performance It contains four main elements: 1.      Back to Basics Campaign (B2B) B2B was implemented, because of a relatively high number of recordable incidents, some requiring first aid, caused by slips, trips and falls from height (STF) and manual handling failures, resulting in finger and hand injuries.  Consequently, refresher courses on manual handling, STF and finger/hand safety were provided to offshore crews. 2.      Fundamentals of Safety (FOS) FOS leadership training, comprising 17 modules covering key aspects of safety leadership and training, was given to all of the companys supervisors and managers early in 2002. 3.      Awards and Recognition An awards programme was introduced to recognise safety performance.  The intent is to stimulate and reinforce good individual and group results, by introducing visibility, peer support, fun and financial reward into safety performance, without inhibiting reporting. 4.      Improve B-Safe Behavioural Safety Programme B-Safe is an observational behavioural safety tool allowing members of the workforce to observe their area of work and note safe and unsafe acts.  Previously, it did not involve talking to people, i.e. intervention, and so the programme has been reinvigorated to include intervention.  Supervisors have been trained in intervention techniques and are using the new programme. As a result of these and other initiatives, there has been a reduction in the rate of major and over 3 day injuries of 60% in three years.   Website References Step Change in Safety Website : step.steel-sci.org Next commitment [23. Workforce conditions [Working Time Directive 2003]] Previous commitment [21. Workforce safety: developing leading indicators] Commitment listing

Sustainability Strategy Commitments