15 Million Person Hours Incident Free At Hebron Mega Project

In the Oil Gas industry, many factors can contribute to employee injury; however, prevention can be achieved. Preventative measures include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safety training, simulation training, and proper evacuation plans. Preventative measures can and will result in saving lives, reducing injury, and minimizing associated risk in the oil patch. Listed below are safety solutions to the most common occupational injuries that can be used to support your company’s safety culture:

Slips & Trips

Slips and trips can be reduced by wearing proper footwear, and cleaning up spills and debris on-site. Delivering ample and current safety training to employees will allow mindful action during an incident while  scenarios and case studies presented during training educate; giving workers the power to recognize potential hazards and a chance to rectify them in real-time.

Falls

Falls can be reduced and maintained by the same formula – wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as appropriate training. When working from heights, safety harnesses and fall arrest protection training are legal requirements and a standard for the industry.  A safety culture of zero tolerance where penalties are issued for not adhering to safety standards can minimize occurrence. Accidents usually happen when standards are not followed.

Struck or Stuck

Prevention of being Struck or Stuck comes down to safe equipment operation procedures, training, and PPE. Workers need to be aware of not only the current work issues, but also the possibilities and outcomes which “could” occur, and take measures to mitigate those risks and be proactive.

Transportation issues

Injury or malfunction during transportation can be detrimental. Maintenance of vehicles and standardized checklists that prompt manual and visual examination of vehicles before and after use ensure safe passage.  Transporting manpower, equipment, and product from Ship to Shore safely is the goal.

Overextension

Overextension “could” lead to a health claim and loss of manpower temporarily or permanently. Occupation Health and Safety training enables a person to act with safety in mind. A reduction method for overextension is getting a ladder when something is out of reach so muscles aren’t strained or sprained.  People need to be aware of and listen to their bodies.  They need to know how to lift properly as well as the limitations of themselves and other workers on the job.

Natural Disasters and Factor X

Natural Disasters and Factor X are not as predictable. The major concern in the event of sinking due to a Natural Disaster would be – How do I return to safety?

Unfortunately, in the past, disasters onshore and offshore have been dealt with reactively rather than proactively. Safety measures have been implemented after the fact, but we need to do much more. Some solutions that have been acquired through error are – weather analysis, live saving equipment – lifeboats and survival suits, simulation training – Basic Survival Training and In-house Training, and evacuation plans.  What else is needed in your work place?

The Success Formula:

If we are to determine a formula for incident reduction and prevention, it would look something like this: PPE + Training + Maintenance = Reduction. Because of worker injuries, we see the importance of an evolving and adapting safety culture where all employees and stakeholders are held accountable. Laws and rules surrounding Oil and Gas processing and manufacturing have a great effect on the safety culture of a company. These laws dictate legal ramification in regards to on-site hazards and corporate accountability.

A framework exists in the Oil and Gas industry which can help minimize the occurrence of incidents; when effective reduce cost of injury. Safety framework’s have to be reciprocal so that management and employee are accountable for their actions, or lack thereof. Incurring penalties for neglecting “safe” tasks are mandatory; thus, giving the framework merit. Moreover, if a worker behaves outside of safety standards they need to be reprimanded and penalized for acting outside of the scope of Safety.

Following those who Succeed

The Hebron Project – The projects contributors are Suncor Energy Inc., Exxon Mobile Canada Properties, Chevron Canada Ltd., Statoil Canada Ltd., and Nalcor Energy Oil and Gas inc. This project operates with safety and responsibility at the forefront. The Gravity Based Structure is designed to withstand Iceberg damage and Oceanographic and Meteorological conditions. It is constructed from reinforced concrete, weighs 180,000 tonnes, and has a storage capacity of 1.2 million barrels of crude. Integration started in 2010 and was completed at the Bull Arm Site, Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2014 alone, the project employed 5000 workers in a variety of occupations. Production for the project is projected for 2017.

15 Million man hours incident free at Hebron

The project’s safety framework or Operations Integration Management System (OIMS) outlines a commitment and dedication to safety. The project was initiated with the program: Nobody Gets Hurt: Employee Empowerment- Making Safety a personal Commitment. A component of this program is Serious About Zero Program. This program encourages workers to take an active role in safety by encouraging observation and communication.

This program combined with several others led to reaching a milestone. On July 22^nd, 2014, the construction phase of the Gravity Based Structure incurred zero incidents of injury. Chevron’s Atlantic Canada Manager Mark McLeod in response to achieving 15 million incident free person hours said, “We reached this point in the project without anyone incurring a serious injury while working at various sites for engineering, GBS construction, and topsides module fabrication that is the most significant accomplishment. Congratulations to the entire team for its relentless pursuit of a safe workplace.”

The Hebron Project has achieved a very significant foothold in terms of safety. Their initiatives called for Zero – Tolerance and they accomplished their goal. When looking at the Hebron project as an example of an exemplary safe working environment, we can say safety cultures work.

Safety cultures save lives, reduce harm and they are integral to preventing injury, and reducing Time-Loss claims. The presence of a safety culture also encourages people to work on mega projects such as the Hebron construction project. Maintenance of a safety culture framework shows that your company is accountable and committed to progressive results in the safety arena on a daily basis.  That’s powerfully sustainable.