Opinion
Is health and safety intervention hampered by culture?
Glen Robertson describes a dramatic approach to health and safety intervention in the offshore sector.
Glen Robertson describe una sorprendente estrategia de intervención de higiene y seguridad en el sector de explotación en alta mar.
Glen Robertson beschreibt einen dramatischen Zugang zu Gesundheits- und Sicherheitsinterventionen im Offshore-Bereich.
B
y understanding the factors that influence human behaviour, we can create a safer work environment. Te UK’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
identifies such factors as: environmental, organisational, job related and also human and individual characteristics. Missing from this
list are cultural and relationship factors – in the oil and gas sector the impact of culture and relationships is best illustrated by their effect on Health & Safety intervention. Most people in the oil and gas industry work alongside others. Terefore, any unsafe act will be witnessed by a colleague who could then intervene. If anyone who witnesses an unsafe act makes the choice to intervene, then this acts as a powerful safety mechanism. However, people can be reluctant to
intervene because they fear the response they might get from colleagues, direct reports or those senior to them. Tey may also not know how to intervene, lacking the necessary skills or confidence. Many organisations within the O&G sector identify intervening as a key part of their behaviour-based safety system. Some also recognise that people need to be actively encouraged and supported to intervene through initiatives that:
● Raise awareness among staff of the cultural and relationship factors that influence people’s readiness to intervene
● Support staff to develop their confidence and skills in intervening.
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“Many have invested in new ‘action’ based training techniques where drama could be used to address culture and relationship issues that act as barriers to intervention”
Glen Robertson, Forum Interactive
How can this encouragement be given? Shell and Petroleum Geo-Services are two global organisations that recognise the value of intervention as a safety process. Tey have invested time and resources into developing drama based training programs that provide a ‘hands on’ approach to meeting these objectives. Here we will discuss what these training programs look like, and how they work. Shell’s behaviour- based safety system, is based around three golden rules: complying, intervening and respecting. Shell re-designed a series of mobilisation workshops for their seismic and
marine vessel crews in order to reinforce these rules in the context of ‘personal responsibility’. In diverse groups, in terms of rank and
role, the crews discussed their experiences and their attitudes towards intervening in response to a drama ‘Nils Story’. Nils story is based on a real incident, concerning two highly trained and experienced electricians – Anders and Nils. Tere is faulty equipment on Nils’ vessel which requires urgent repair. Anders offers to help out because he has had a similar problem on his own vessel. Tey set to work. Tere is an explosion which leaves Anders dead and Nils needing hospital treatment. In the investigation that follows, Nils admits that they failed to comply with basic safety procedures. Te relationship between the two men is highlighted as a critical factor. Teir close friendship led
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