Page 46: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jan/Feb 2021)

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OPINION SAFETY MANAGEMENT media and the public. The reporting of lost time injuries is one example of under-

One tempting “quick ?x” to improve the injury frequency reporting due to both the internal and external transparency is to implement structural interventions through a transac- regarding these incidents. Some typical strategies that stimu- tional approach; write a new rule and simply require people late the under-reporting of lost time injuries are listed below: to comply. Because this approach has long traditions, it is UÊ i?`ÊÌ?iÊ`iw??Ì???\ÊVÀi>Ì?ÛiÞÊw?`Ê>?ÞÊÃ??«iÊÌ>Ã?Ê referred to as the “old school” approach. A transformational that makes it possible for the injured person to continue approach requires more cross-organizational collaboration working. between the safety department (which “owns” the problem), UÊ-Õ««ÀiÃÃÊÀi«?ÀÌ??}\ÊÃÕ««ÀiÃÃÊÌ?iÊÀi«?ÀÌ??}Ê?vÊ??ÕÀ?iÃÊ the HR department (which “owns” the people) and day-to- by using indicators such as “days since last LTI” or “7 years day operations (which “own” the managers and priorities). without reported LTI”.

Furthermore, their often involves more advanced implemen- UÊ-Ü>««??}\Ê`iw?iÊÌ?iʏ?V>Ì???Ê?vÊÌ?iÊ??ÕÀÞÊÌ?ÊLiÊ?ÕÌ- tation. Bottom-up engagement ensures that the employees side the workplace or outside working hours or change the have ownership and understanding of the change. The top- project that the injured person is working on. down implementation through the “chain of command” en- UÊ-??«iÊÕ?`iÀ?Ài«?ÀÌ??}\ÊÃ??«ÞÊÛ??>ÌiÊÌ?iÊÀiµÕ?Ài- sures that the changes are welcomed. ment to report an injury unless it is impossible to conceal.

Old School Safety Management Can Embrace Transformational

Fuel Cover Ups Leadership

Many energy companies unconsciously rely too much on With few exceptions, the failures leading to major incidents structural interventions and/or transactional implementation. are known before the incident takes place. This underlines the

For example, to speed up reporting it is common to require a need to build a culture in which people dare to speak up and certain number of observations or near-miss reports per em- where they listen to each other. Transformational implemen- ployee or installation per month. Other examples are behav- tation is effective in maturing trust, care, and openness in the iour-based safety and barrier management, which are often organization, resulting in a 50-80% drop in major incident implemented using a transactional approach. risk. These are signi?cant improvements, but there are other

When people are forced into a change without buy-in, en- bene?ts as well. A more mature culture also has an impact on gagement, and motivation, the change can easily turn into the serious injury frequency, which is reduced by a factor of a compliance exercise without ownership and critical think- 40-65%. Employees who have the buy-in and understanding ing. The end result is that complying with the requirement or take greater care of themselves and their colleagues. expectation tends to be more important than the underlying So, when somebody asks if they should focus on major inci- purpose and intention. dents or personal injuries, it is simply the wrong question. The most effective approach is to address both of them with a common transfor- mational safety program.

1 Examples of 2020 inci- K- sions (Marathon, Exxon-

Mobil, Equinor, Astron and

Engen), blowouts (Assam/

Baghjan (India) and Oren- burg (Russia)) LNG process plant problems (Equinor and Petronas) and rig prob- lems due to heavy weather (Seadrill/Lundin and Petro- nas Carigali).

Source: Sayfr 46 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM