HSElife Magazine No 9 UK - Special edition by The WAT Group B.V.

SPECIAL EDITION

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE for Oil & Gas industry

Q1 2013

The research, development, implementation and the future of HSElife UNIO in five steps.

HSE LIFE

In this issue:

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THE RESEARCH page

THE DEVELOPMENT

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HSElife UNIO

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THE IMPLEMENTATION

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THE FUTURE

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THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

The purpose of this special is to gain insight into the study of HSElife UNIO, its development, implementation and its future in five steps. Speaking the same clear language regarding Health, Safety and Environment, and harmonization of regulations by focusing primarily on agreements between companies and contractors. That is the goal the member parties of HSElife UNIO pursue.

VISION

MISSION

Our vision is to make the Oil and Gas industry the safest

Our mission: only by working together could we advance

Dutch industry by achieving Incident Free Operations. Our

harmonization and the sharing of HSE information. At

vision connects seamlessly with the ambition of all Opera-

HSElife UNIO we facilitate development, optimizing and

tors in the Oil and Gas industry to work without accidents,

communication of standards, best practices and important

incidents, spills or damage to the environment.

HSE information throughout the whole industry.

Watch the video for a short introduction on HSElife UNIO

Foreword

A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE There is a thought behind everything man makes. There is an origin to all we see, do or hear. The thought behind HSElife UNIO is to make the Dutch Oil and Gas Industry the safest industry by harmonization of rules and information, by cooperating and exchanging experiences. The origin of HSElife UNIO is the belief that this is possible. With consideration for health and environment, HSElife UNIO creates the conditions under which Contractors and Subcontractors can work safely.

In this process, we have made great progress, which is why it is fantastic to see that the operators have joined HSElife UNIO. CASOS, the Dutch State Supervision of Mines and IRO also support HSElife UNIO. After thorough preparations, we take a big leap in 2013 by beginning the implementation of HSElife UNIO within the organizations of these Oil and Gas Operators. Working safely is not a snapshot, but something one needs to work on continuously. A stitch in time still saves nine! That is why we want to underline the importance of HSElife UNIO once again. So, now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to consider what we have realized up till now, where we stand and what we want to achieve. In this special you can read all about it. With pleasure, we give the floor to the Operators so they can explain what HSElife UNIO means to them and moreover, what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s importance is for everybody working in the Oil and Gas Industry.

On behalf of the THE WAT GROUP Pier van Spronsen

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

step HSE LIFE

THE RESEARCH Several years ago, the initiators of HSElife UNIO started their research on why accidents and mistakes occur. Their conclusion: the industry agrees with HSElife UNIO upon the thought that the harmonization of rules and regulations within the Oil and Gas Industry is essential in the strategy of achieving Incident Free Operations. In the e-zine HSElife magazine -the driving force behind HSElife UNIO-, we have published the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion on harmonization. In this chapter, you can read a number of those opinions.

THE RESEARCH

safe

What does a

workplace cost Anyone who thinks that investing in safety is expensive should stop and think about the costs involved in an incident. Anyone doing so will accept that the costs of safety are outweighed by the devastating suffering that incidents entail.

THE VERY FACT THAT SOME THINGS ARE IRREVERSIBLE MEANS THAT EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO AVOID THEM.

Thoughts still turn to Warffum

A DISASTER IS A DISASTER

THE WILL TO LEARN We know that it is pointless to keep raking up memories of

A catastrophe like the one in the Gulf of Mexico causes us to

every incident and accident. However, we make an excep-

reflect on the impact of serious incidents. In this connection

tion for Warffum. The story is told as a standard part of the

we are often asked whether Warffum still occupies people’s

induction of new employees.

minds. The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. On 31 May 2010 we remembered the victims of the accident that occurred five years ago to the day. What went wrong there should not have happened, and was entirely preventable. This incident was not the only one with tragic consequences in our history. There were others, certainly in our early years. But...

Everyone is shocked when they hear what happened, but the true horror can only be felt by those who were actually there.

who remembers them now? For this very reason, we are still following up on the issues raised by this incident. As an organisation we have to be willing to learn the lessons involved.

THE RESEARCH

AT ALL LEVELS This is why we continue to invest in safety. Safety is a subject that affects everyone and for which everyone is responsible.

With ‘A way of living’ we present a very tangible interpretation of the lessons learned from the incident in Warffum.

Our first aim was to make available clear information material, with factual practical ‘translations’ of procedures and work instructions, tailored to specific target groups. We are now focusing on the implementation and embedding of the ideas in everyday practice. A good example is the website (www.awolinfo.com). This is outside Shell’s domain, and is therefore freely accessible to all. Sharing information in this way has already been of great value to our Contractors.

EVERYTHING IN CONTEXT Despite all efforts, incidents still happen. People still seem insufficiently aware of the risks and hazards in the process environment. These do not only affect individual safety, but also the safety of the process. The important point, therefore, is to teach people to identify and recognise risks on the actual workplace. Facilitating discussion will make it easier to deal with these hazards and, as a consequence, to manage risk. which will cover topical events in the immediate working

We are therefore following up ‘A way of living’ with ‘Spot the hazard’,

environment. By also providing links with the associated control measures, we will also be able to put a specific incident into a broader context. And, more importantly, we can create awareness and alertness before an incident happens. Piet van Dam HSE Manager NAM

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 1 (2010)

THE RESEARCH

THE

HUMAN FACTOR

Owners take infinitely better care of their property than arbitrary users. So, if you want to avoid incidents, does it follow that you should make everyone owner of the process they belong to?

THE RESEARCH

OWNERSHIP IS A MATTER OF

100%

It is accepted as fact that working in our industry involves risks. It is taken for granted that the people who work in our industry are also aware of the risks and know how to handle them. Nonetheless, news and rumours of incidents reach us often, despite all the knowledge and know-how we have accumulated. We once thought we had engineered out all the hazards. It then became apparent that capturing everything in procedures is unattainable, and putting blind faith in our management systems maybe unwise. Ultimately it all comes back to where it all started: THE PEOPLE who made and are still making oil and gas exploration and production into an industry.

Missing link On the other hand, if you happen to know that something really serious can go wrong, with an enormous impact on everything and everyone, surely that itself will make you – to put it mildly – cautious? The word leaves little to be desired in terms of clarity. But why then is it so often the case that an incident has to happen before people change their attitudes? What is the missing link that can put you one step ahead at that precise time?

GREEN IS BRIGHT RED Step by step would appear to be the best way. Indicators can point in the right direction, but they are not foolproof. Owners have been known to neglect their property. Incidents have occurred even though all the KPIs were green. You might then ask yourself whether you were monitoring the right indicators, or whether it might be time to worry about others. An owner can also lose his fresh or objective

Finished or not? ‘Ownership’ is a term that is frequently heard in this context. Ownership, arising from the responsibilities that someone

outlook, or even fall into complacency. How important this can be is reiterated every time we have an audit performed. This is why you should never take a step too quickly where ‘ownership’ is concerned.

in a given function or capacity is simply deemed to assume. In brief, make a person the owner of a procedure and he will adhere to it. The idea sounds logical, but it immediately raises a question. When should you give someone responsibilities? From one day to the next? This would be good, but preferably when the organisation is ready for the change.

THE SOLUTION Identifying which indicators are actually relevant must come from constant worry, being constantly alert and regularly evaluating or reviewing the indicators involved. This means having one hundred per cent insight and understanding in the organisation about ‘plant’, ‘process’ and ‘people’. No more, no less. Ronald Pijtak HSEQ Manager Centrica Energy Upstream

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 1 (2010)

THE RESEARCH

Speaking of

commitment

Bram van Mannekes:

“The value of people exchanging and absorbing information shows when this leads to permanent motivation and implementation of results within individuals’ own organisations.”

NOGEPA’s new style Much work and many achievements come out of the various working groups and committees that NOGEPA sets up. Nonetheless, there is a desire to target the activities even more specifically. One aspect is an attempt to raise awareness of the organisation’s influence on decision processes. However, ensuring that the member companies do more than just ‘something’ with the output is every bit as important. We spoke to Bram van Mannekes, Secretary-General of NOGEPA.

THE RESEARCH

There are rumours of an impending new boost to

What can NOGEPA then do to guarantee the correct

dynamism within NOGEPA. What sorts of thing should

presentation of the output for use by its members?

we expect? We wish to establish a clearer profile in multiple fields, and

The most important aspect is that the members of the

assert our position more firmly in the debate with our tar-

working groups and committees really put their shoulders

get groups. For instance, we want gradually to move away

to the wheel to communicate the output within their own

from meetings that have a perpetual agenda. Organising our

ranks. We can go no further than facilitating processes as

activities as projects will enable us to concentrate our atten-

effectively as we can. It touches on our right to exist, as

tion on specific, more thematic, subjects. It goes without

an umbrella organisation, to ensure that information can

saying that we will be raising these subjects for discussion

be transferred correctly and clearly. This is also where the

in smaller groups, preferably comprising specialists in very

greatest challenge lies. We have to keep inventing and pro-

specific or clearly delineated fields. This is a way of involv-

viding tools to reduce to a minimum any noise on the line.

ing people much more directly and urgently in developing

Our recently redesigned website is an important aid. We

ideas about these subjects. We have seen that if we can

publish a regular newsletter in support of the site. We also

achieve the depth we aspire to, it can make people more

wish to facilitate the formation of new networks, so that

motivated to stay actively involved in the subsequent steps.

everyone, even if they are not involved in the meetings, can

This is where we can add value and therefore make a dif-

easily maintain contact with each other about subjects of, or

ference.

that serve a, joint interest.

NOGEPA’s strength is in its members’ willingness to contribute actively in this way to the interests of the industry.

We wish to establish a clearer profile

How can the value of their contributions be gauged?

in multiple fields, and assert our position more firmly in the debate

If we look at our members, we can see that they are con-

with our target groups.

fronted with changing and, more specifically, smaller workforces. Those acting as representatives on the working groups and committees will usually have had to make sac-

Bram van Mannekes

rifices in their normal work. Needless to say, this can occasionally lead to questions. To what extent can they free up time given the hectic situation in their own work, including

What guarantee does this give that the sector really will

the interests of the company they represent, in order to con-

implement the working group and committee proposals

centrate on an industry-wide issue? What is the outcome of

and resolutions?

the discussion worth to them? How do they feel at the end of a meeting? What do they do with the information they re-

Our responsibility is to communicate the output as clearly as

ceive? One person will handle the situation differently from

possible. Only then can it be incorporated within the struc-

someone else. It should be noted that participants’ ‘direct’

tures of each of our members. The members themselves are

interest in the subject also plays an important role. Howev-

responsible for the ultimate integration or implementation.

er, we observe that one or more ‘front runners’ always stand

What it boiles down to is wanting to capitalise on having

up and manage to activate and motivate the others with

people exchanging and absorbing information, both in terms

their enthusiasm.

of permanent motivation and implementation of the output in individuals’ own organisations.

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 1 (2010)

THE RESEARCH

Support & Quotes of... “Cooperation and standardization are vital elements for a industry wide, exceptional HSE performance. HSElife UNIO offers a useful platform for this.”

Nico Tielens

“The cooperation between Operators and Contractors in order to harmonize HSE information is an important step in creating clarity for everybody. Eventually, this may lead to an even better safety performance within our industry.”

Operations Director Northern Petroleum Nederland B.V.

Ruud Zoon

“HSElife UNIO offers a great platform to the Oil and Gas Industry to further improve our industry’s safety and environmental performance – it is not an optional choice but a must.”

“Chevron is continuously focusing on active engagement with Contractors to eliminate Health, Environmental and Safety Incidents and Injuries among employees and contractors. Supporting HSElife UNIO, a harmonization effort in the provision of Health, Environmental and Safety related information to our Contractors, is in my opinion, a key step for enabling this.”

Bart van de Leemput

Directeur Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij B.V.

GDF Suez

Kevin Lyon

Chevron, Country Manager

“Consciously handling safety, health and environment belongs to a universal culture with the same goal anywhere in the world. The HSElife UNIO platform is an important initiative to reach this goal.”

Theo Bergers

Oranje Nassau Energie, COO

“Dana Petroleum is totally committed to safety. It is our most important value as a company. Sharing best practise in HSSE across our industry can help us all learn from each other. HSElife Unio will help facilitate that process.”

Nick Dancer

Managing Director Dana Petroleum Netherlands B.V.

“I would gladly head for the barricade when the creation of uniform rules is at stake.”

Jan Willem van Hoogstraten Managing Director TAQA Energy B.V.

“Taking our whole industry to a higher safety level is the only way to realize our ambition of achieving Incident Free Operations. Harmonization is an essential part of this, also by learning from each other’s best safety practices and way of working. Moreover, it is a good thing to convey one and the same message to the outside world: Using the same language all over the Industry. Hence HSElife UNIO.”

Fraser Weir

Regional Director a.i. Centrica Energy Upstream

“With HSE being the top priority in TOTAL, it is essential that our employees and contractors who are working offshore are all aware of the risks involved in our business. Therefore, we join the group of operators in the HSElife UNIO initiative to ensure a common and systematic approach to training programs explaining all our common hazards with the ambition of zero incidents.”

Mark Been

Operations Manager TOTAL E&P Nederland BV

step HSE LIFE

2 TM

THE DEVELOPMENT Together, the operators have decided to put their combined effort into the maximal harmonization of rules and regulations on HSE. By doing this, they concentrate on supplying their employees and the Contractors -Onshore, Offshore and Office- with unambiguous information. Moreover, unambiguous HSE information also offers the opportunity to save time and money.

THE DEVELOPMENT

MACHIAVELLI WROTE THE FAMOUS ‘DIVIDE AND CONQUER’. MURPHY HAS BEEN PROVED RIGHT MULTIPLE TIMES IN RISKY SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE PETROCHEMICALS INDUSTRY. THE WORST OF BOTH MEN IS COMBINED IN A QUESTION I ONCE HEARD WHEN I WAS YOUNG: “IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE, WOULD YOU RATHER BE DEAF OR BLIND?”

IT CAN ALL BE SO MUCH EASIER… … because in fact it’s quite simple. All companies want exactly the same: to produce gas and/or oil. To achieve this, they use exactly the same resources, exactly the same systems, exactly the same methods, under exactly the same circumstances… Perhaps, but they actually all approach things slightly differently, in their own tried and trusted way, which is certainly not necessarily the only right way. So why should things be done differently? What do you think? No idea? The WAT Group has!

THE DEVELOPMENT

and instructions is heard as regularly as clockwork, and has been for decades. Countless specialists and amateurs have been struggling with the issue for years, either individually or in groups. So why has it never proved successful? What went wrong? Is it so difficult? Or not? If you have the right

“

A WIN-WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES, THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND THE CONTRACTORS THAT WORK FOR IT

“

Within the industry, the call for harmonisation of procedures

knowledge and consider things from the sidelines rather than from the heart of the action, you can understand the ambition but also see the obstacles preventing it. So what exactly is going on?

Eyes wide open There are two ways of getting from A to B. The first involves only leaving A when there is almost 200% certainty of the exact location of B. That can take some time… The alternative way is more pragmatic. Leaving A means heading towards ‘a B’. Where the precise location of B is only becomes clear in the process towards B, organically and with widespread support. But much more importantly, actually leaving A forces you, more actively than ever, to go in search of this B, wherever it may be. If, in the process, you accidentally end up reaching a higher level, C, D or even E, it is not only a benefit but a genuine achievement.

So where do we actually want to end up?

No point reinventing the wheel

In the case in question, you can of course wait until every-

Be all that as it may, this was the point of departure that

one in the industry has reached full and complete agree-

the The Wat Group suggested to some of its clients from the

ment. But again, that can take some time. Alternatively,

industry. The background to all of this was 10 or 12 years’

you can simply get started. Get down to action. Bring to-

experience with company-specific management systems

gether one or more like-minded souls and do your utmost to

and similar procedures and instructions. That, and a ques-

reach agreement. In this quest, differences are inevitable.

tion from us: is it not possible to make all of this more real,

But then suddenly, these differences do not seem to be so

more human? Why go to all the effort of making contractors

big at all. Ultimately, with a little negotiation, it is possible

do things one way when they can perfectly well be done the

to reach an excellent compromise. And this gives you an

other way? Why make all these efforts, by means of yet an-

amazing, wonderful feeling. A revelation? Liberation? Sal-

other induction, to show new staff that it is possible, no nec-

vation? Whatever it is, it is progress, an evolutionary step

essary, to interpret the same things slightly differently and to

closer towards the inescapable fact: consensus. Seen from

do it our way? Why all these different campaigns designed

a theoretical perspective, somewhere in all this chaos lies

to achieve the same awareness, quite apart from all their

the perfect structure, often one that is completely obvious,

different names? In a nutshell: why try to reinvent the wheel

logical, acceptable and applicable.

every time, with all the costs, problems and resistance?

THE DEVELOPMENT

We have already hinted at this in previous editions of HSElife magazine. But now, it’s all hands on deck. Centrica Energy Upstream and GdF Suez have been pioneers in this approach. NAM and TAQA have signalled their intention to follow. The first concrete product: a DVD entitled ‘Going offshore’, from home to the heliport, to the platform and back. Including the controversial issue ‘Alcohol, Drugs & Medicines’ and a summary of the hazards & risks. Plus a profile of the industry and the way in which it aims to tackle HSEQ events. And the icing on the cake: a chapter all about attitude and approach, trust and respect, awareness and responsibilities. With an additional bonus involving the use of HSElife as an all-encompassing communication medium, the place for news about company-specific issues. NAM

“

This is as clear as it gets (for now)

EXPLORATION (SUCCESS) IS WHAT SETS US APART, OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. PRODUCING OIL & GAS IN A SAFE AND EFFICIENT MANNER IS WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER. WE HAVE MANY COMMON PROCESSES, CO-OPERATE IN JOINT VENTURES, SHARE LOGISTIC SERVICES AND WORK TOGETHER WITH THE SAME SUPPLIERS AND (SUB)CONTRACTORS. THIS COMMONALITY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND IMPROVE HSSE PERFORMANCE. IN THE END WE WILL ALL BENEFIT FROM COMMON PRACTICES, PROCEDURES, TRAINING AND SYSTEMS. TIME TO TAKE THE “POOL” CONCEPT TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

will be the first to get to work. After all, sometimes a little more is a good thing…

Advance to the next level Let’s go back a bit. The DVD forms the basis of ready-made introduction packs to the various levels within the organisation and HSEQ documentation for supervisors and at workfloor level, platform guides and intranet applications. For these, special formats have been developed that can easily be adapted for each participating company in line with their house specifications. Unless, as appears to be the trend, a universal template emerges, independent of the individual producer. The advantages of a universal style used by all companies are clear… Indeed, the The WAT Group is now talking of the realisation of a ‘next-level centralised communication community’, already dubbed ‘UNIO’. But we will return to that next time.

Forget the triple jump, make the leap The notion of achieving harmonisation reflects the shared practice of the participants in terms of the broad outlines summarised in their mission statements and policy divisions. The exact details are configured, even now, at the level of the specific company and platform. The issue of specific risks and activities is not up for discussion here. In view of the milestones already achieved in these areas, they almost seem to be old ground. And with great thanks to NAM for making available their expertise to fellow companies in order to shape the harmonisation called for by the market (read: Contractors), both horizontally and vertically!

Too much at once? The industry is on the move. Or perhaps it isn’t, since denial is also an art. Anyone who is capable of looking further into the future than yesterday, knows that there is no choice but to go along with developments. After all, there was a time when the day before yesterday was the day after tomorrow And that was today, remember! To borrow from Einstein: ‘Everything is relative: discover the relativity before it discovers you’.

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 3 (2011)

THE DEVELOPMENT

TRANSPARENCY IS A

Whereas many companies are now thinking seriously about how to coordinate their procedures and instructions, Shell (and therefore also NAM) are in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;luxury positionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of being able to concentrate on the lack of ambiguity and the comprehensibility of their own rules, throughout the chain.

Bart van de Leemput

THE DEVELOPMENT

Things can always be better.

“

Driven by constant concern, each year we are working

more safely than the year before. We have learned many things about how to work better, and more safely. Explaining works. Procedures are effective only if people understand them. There is more to understanding than knowing

the facts. It also demands a degree of experience, because only then will it be possible in practice to recognise the risks

that procedures seek to avoid. It is therefore necessary to explain, not only to new employees, but also to old hands whose knowledge may have become dulled in the course of time, or who need realigning with changes in the company’s focus. Repetition, and demanding permanent attention to the dangers and risks of work and the workplace, are also effective measures. Only then can you keep a healthy sense of vulnerability alive, which is what keeps people alert.

WE WILL ALWAYS KEEP THE DISCUSSION ALIVE.

”

“Obeying tried-and-tested rules can make your own life a bit easier. Procedures are based on things that once went wrong. When procedures become a habit, we can prevent problems. Life is just too short to make all the mistakes yourself. Moreover, some mistakes can make life shorter. More to the point: one big mistake can mean it is all over. The moral of this story is to learn from mistakes, because someone already made them.” “Anyone who would like to try an ‘alternative’ way of learning about the mistakes others have made should take a look on www.darwinawards.com. This site presents – posthumous – awards to people who have improved our gene pool by (accidentally) removing themselves from it.”

field take care of implementation and rollout throughout the chain, including to contractors. They are supported by the tools we have developed, such as ‘A way of living’. It takes time, and in the meantime countless high priority matters demand, or perhaps even compete for, attention. This is a lesson we have now learned: investing in safety takes time. But handled correctly, the lack of incidents will ultimate

The question we are always asking

save enormous amounts of time.

is whether we have made it all simple and efficient enough. Our CMS is full of procedures, all of which are interrelated, never absolute. It is a fact that no one in the workplace looks forward to complicated quests that eventually produce bulky documents. This is why we are attempting to structure the CMS as clearly as possible, while translating the material in it as comprehensibly as possible. Entire sets of

We make no secret of our rules, and how we and our contractors constantly evaluate them. Our information is available to all, which is consistent with our aim of keeping the discussion alive. We do this not on the basis of the regulations themselves, but from the notion that ‘we care’.

instructions are being reviewed on a regular basis. The updated versions are entered into the CMS. Our staff in the

Bart van de Leemput is Managing Director of NAM

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 3 (2011)

THE DEVELOPMENT

TEAMWORK IS A

MUST

Why does it take so long to achieve a little bit of uniformity

in the industry? Sometimes you just have to make a start to find out that far more can be achieved than you first thought. And when you start, do it properly: as resolutely as possible.

Frits van der Wilt

THE DEVELOPMENT

“It would be going too far to make comparisons of each other’s well data.” We are firmly in favour of sharing knowledge and experience. Why should we keep reinventing the wheel, since we are all doing roughly the same things with the same aim? How far you should pursue that line of thought obviously depends on the circumstances in which you operate. For instance, we in Norway abandoned a package of our own procedures in favour of those adopted by several major companies. In the Netherlands I (and others) have often advocated joining with other companies to achieve some goal or other. Until now this objective has not been taken up sufficiently, at least in firm projects. I always sense a degree of reluctance when subjects of this kind come up for discussion, which may be why talks tend to stall. I then wonder where the reluctance comes from. Might people be worried that someone could make off with the information? Let’s be honest: haven’t we been using each other’s information for years? It’s almost a habit!

“To use a shipping industry analogy. One captain lets you keep your boots on, but another makes you take them off.” although there are many international agreements about competencies, certificates, and so on.

I think there is no point in waiting until everyone is in line from A to Z. It must be possible simply to start, specifically with the aspects about which there is no debate. There is a generic part that is the same for all companies. There are many other subjects on which views and opinions run in parallel. When all is said and done, we do not differ drastically from each other. So let’s get together at the start and set down what we want. And where differences do exist, it is likely that they can and will diminish as we discover that we indeed have more in common than appeared at first glance. It is more awkward to identify common factors in company-specific aspects, and this may indeed be impossible on site or platform level. But take note: if we act like rigidly rational engineers, we will soon get bogged down deciding on the pitch of a screw thread. It is not an option to think that time will stop if the clock isn’t ticking. With this in mind, we have been getting around the table with several parties recently to try to draft a joint document on what we have in common. In other words, we have simply made a start. When we have made a little more progress, we will welcome other parties to join us.

Frits van der Wilt is HSE Manager at GDF SUEZ E&P Nederland B.V.

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 3 (2011)

THE DEVELOPMENT

Sietse Wijnstra, Managing Director of Cofely NAM Onshore Contracts in Assen, is also chairman of CASOS, the Contractor Alliance for Safety on Shell Operations. This organisation provides a forum for about fifty Contractors to make an active contribution to safety policy. When invited to represent Casos in the HSElife UNIO steering group, Wijnstra was only too happy to accept.

by step Strength in unity In recent weeks CASOS has been informing its members about the The WAT Group’s initiatives in the field of regulatory harmonisation. These have required little further explanation – the issues at stake are very familiar, after all, and CASOS itself was established as a joint effort to produce consistent policy. It is important that that be shaped in partnership with the contractors, not only because they have considerable expertise but also because they run much of the risk. We all need to work together on this: Onshore and Offshore on the one hand, the NAM organisation on the other. At the moment our alliance includes only the major project and maintenance contractors, but we are all aiming for one and the same goal: formulating policy on an annual basis and designing programmes and campaigns for safe working. By combining our resources, we are able to make the most of our hands-on knowledge and expertise to create an accident-free workplace. And it’s an approach that works! Within a very short time, we have been able to tackle some twenty cases jointly with NAM.

THE DEVELOPMENT

“As Contractors for the Oil and Gas industry, we are more than happy to contribute our expertise to help create a safe workplace based upon clear, practicable and unambiguous interpretation of the regulations.”

Open partnerships Looking beyond Shell, more and more other operators now seem to agree that they need to act collectively on this issue. Seven companies have already committed themselves to HSElife UNIO. We have been tracking developments in this field very closely, step by step. With that kind of unanimity on the other side of the table, the time has come for the contractors to enter the scene. We know that the companies have long realised that “the people doing the job know what’s safe and what isn’t”. A good example of this approach is the Onshore HSEW Instructions from NAM, developed in consultation with the CASOS Contractors. Both sides worked closely together in that process, forging an open partnership which enabled them to draw upon one another’s know-how – both theoretical and practical – and to respond to one another’s needs and wishes. The result is clearly “everybody’s baby”. What’s more, that is how it is viewed on the workfloor. Such openness is not a given, though; it is a very natural instinct to want to overcome your own problems and then keep the solutions to yourself. It takes time to learn that transparency is the right way to go, and it helps to be able to demonstrate successes proving that. On this front, Contractors still have a tough game ahead of them. But the first twenty cases are an encouraging start.

New fervour Joint policymaking of this kind is still a relatively new idea. And one totally at odds with the traditional notion of “thinking for other people”, then punishing mistakes and rewarding good behaviour. If the past has taught us anything, it is that that is no solution and never can be. By definition, it is too one-

www.casos.nl

sided and overly focused upon the short term. What CASOS already aspired to within the NAM-Shell environment is now being pursued with a new fervour throughout the industry thanks to HSElife UNIO.

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 4 (2011)

THE DEVELOPMENT

NAM Onshore HSEW Instruction

“If you give added momentum to the key occasions when people need to be informed, their interest will be sparked to absorb the information, even if it is not mandatory, but just extremely useful.” >

Piet van Dam

THE DEVELOPMENT

Wide-ranging instruction

Interactive learning

NAM recently issued its Onshore HSE Instruction. It brings

The instruction is compulsory for anyone wishing to work at

together a number of basic instructions relating to safety,

an onshore location and culminates in a test. People who

health, welfare and the environment. It includes a varie-

pass the test are issued with a stamp in their safety pass-

ty of office and location-specific training modules and in-

port. The stamp is valid for two years. In this, we apply the

structional videos for regular contractors. It also supersedes

structure of the Interactive Offshore Learning Programme

certain training courses and instructions, including the

(ILO) with regard to working at an offshore location. Both

Deltalinqs port video. This had become extremely outdated,

instructions, with the exception, of course, of the related

both in terms of information and the way in which it was

questions, can be found on the website where all informa-

presented. Because we believed a new version had been a

tion developed as part of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A Way Of Livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is published. This

long time coming, we have now also included topics such

enables everyone to find information about specific subjects

as access policy and NAM-specific dangers, in a much more

or activities, in addition to the compulsory instruction.

wide-ranging instruction. This instruction is a first step towards raising awareness of the various dangers at our locations. People will be able

Context and connection We aim to effectively inform anyone who is to work at a NAM onshore location and we have a lot to tell them. Of course, the question is how much information a person can absorb at the same time. It is important to set it within

to acquire more knowledge by means of toolbox meetings, HSE meetings and additional training courses. Supervisors on location have a special responsibility during day-to-day activities. Where necessary, additional instructions must be issued to ensure that staff are aware of all dangers. More experienced staff play an important coaching role in this.

the right context and to present information in manageable chunks. This is why we opted for a layered, modular structure. The general section examines the primary process, the related risks and rules, procedures and instructions applied by NAM in order to manage the risks. Because no two installations are the same, the general section is later supplemented on-site with location-specific information. In a separate submenu, access is provided to additional documentation on specific operational issues or activities.

A new standard? The ILO has now proved its worth and has been generally accepted by the industry as a standard, a step on the way towards harmonisation of the rules applied by the different companies. The Onshore HSE Instruction seems set to prove as successful as the other A Way Of Living materials. Many people from various quarters have already expressed interest in using it.

The Onshore HSE Instruction is available at www.awolinfo.com 24

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 4 (2011)

THE DEVELOPMENT

An advance on

EVOLUTION Where actually is the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;competitive edgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for the companies involved in oil and gas exploration in the Netherlands? The answer comes from simply stating the facts: as they are and as they could be.

Jan-Willem van Hoogstraten

THE DEVELOPMENT

Our industry has seen an interesting trend in recent years. While underground reserves have been steadily declining,

“Anyone who is able to develop

the challenges of continuing to operate profitably have in-

professionally within a uniform framework

creased, as the freedom to manoeuvre and the margin have

will be far more broadly employable. It is

dwindled. Calls for optimisation and greater efficiency have grown ever louder. These calls have translated into trends

a way of offering your people attractive

such as offshore crew downsizing and concentration on the

prospects for moving to other companies,

ultimate responsibilities as licensee.

Shifts Various contractors have turned the situation to their advantage. It started in the 1960s with the occasional small

operators, or contractors. This may sound paradoxical, but people will be in less of a hurry to leave their current employer if they are confident of the opportunity to move elsewhere if the need arises…”

project on the North Sea. Some expanded into fully integrated service providers with a broad package of services for the industry. Contractors accepted certain responsibilities that previously resided with the operators. Specialisation fi-

Right to exist

nally brings the advantage of being a specialist. Knowledge shifted from clients to contractors. This change put clients

It could be so much simpler. Just think of the time when

in a somewhat vulnerable position; knowledge, after all, is

each company had its own ships, and chartered its own

power. The influx of new employees did nothing to streng-

helicopters. This era is now long gone. We have made

then this position. Many of the new people no longer had

enormous efficiency gains through having pools of assets.

an operational background. The supply of recruits from other

Whenever we go offshore the helicopter instruction video

maritime sectors – after several waves of reorganisation –

we watch is the same. So why don’t we have uniform rules

also dried up. New employees were often recruited from

and procedures for the North Sea, the same licence system,

outside, and affinity with the sector was scarcely an issue in

the same alarm number, and the same emergency response

the selection process.

procedure? Is it because we all, individually, think we know best? And why should we, the oil and gas companies, have

Straws in the wind

to create the rules? Wouldn’t it be much more logical for the specialist to do it? Wouldn’t offshore then be appreciably clearer and safer? Sometimes I even wonder what added

Hopping from platform to platform, and from company to

value oil or gas company X, Y or Z still sees in operating its

company, contractors evolved into indispensable sources of

own platforms. Shouldn’t we be thinking about reconfigu-

knowledge and experience. But what about the oil and gas

ring our business, and introducing a pool for this too? With

companies: the licensees with ultimate responsibility for the

a system like the one in the UK, where contractors are able

operation? They continued – as they still do – to adhere ri-

to act as ‘duty holders’? Suppose this system were to mate-

gidly to their own established patterns; their own protocols.

rialise, shouldn’t we, the oil and gas companies, then focus

In the meantime, the contractor would long since have been

more sharply on what we derive our right to exist from: fin-

unable to find ‘the truth in the middle’ had he himself been

ding and developing sources of oil and gas?

less right-minded.

Jan Willem van Hoogstraten Managing Director of TAQA Energy B.V.

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 3 (2011)

THE DEVELOPMENT

Raising and rising:

On November 25th of 2011 the first assembly took place with the different parties that have aligned themselves behind HSElife UNIO. Manifesting

FROM NOBLE STRIVE TO CONCRETE ACTION

the wish to cooperate in order to realize harmonization in regulations in the field of HSE. About came a declaration of intent concerning the formation of ‘HSElife UNIO’ as central topic.

THE DEVELOPMENT

Preconditions

Association of users

Goal of the declaration of intent was to set the precondi-

To benefit the cooperation the terms of use and exploitation

tions in which the parties, as broad arranged as possible,

of HSElife UNIO (invented and developed by the The WAT

want to embody the aspiration towards harmonization. For

Group) will be delegated to an association of participants of

instance they shall develop a center of communication. This

HSElife UNIO, which are also the users. This delegation is

center, including the products and materials deriving from

exclusive and for the duration of its existence.

this center, will be established mainly for communication. The center will contain an ‘open’ space in which information can be found that is of importance to all participating par-

Continuation

ties. This will be mainly about ‘harmonized products’. Furthermore every party can have at its disposition a separated

With this development (again) an important step is made to

section in the center, only accessible to the specific party.

bring the different parties closer to each other, making way

This section can be used for company-specific goals such

for harmonization. It couldn’t have been done better than

as communicative products and materials belonging to the

to come together in a joint effort to spread out our shared

company. To inform the constituencies and other people in-

ideas. To be continued...

terested about what’s happening, parties can choose to use the e-zine HSElife which is linked to HSElife UNIO.

THE PARTICIPATING COMPANIES HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO A MAXIMUM IMPLANTATION OF HSE LIFE UNIO AND THE DEVELOPED PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS WITHIN THE OWN ORGANISATION. Steering Group It is decided that the organisation of the communication center shall have a transparent and clear structure. Organisational, strategic and administrative aspects of the (ongoing) development of HSElife UNIO and the materials and products are under responsibility and competence of the Steering Group. This Steering Group consists of representatives of each of the participating parties. Also the financial contribution of the parties for the participation in HSElife UNIO and its development shall be established by this Steering Group.

Want to know more about the HSElife UNIO? Contact Pier van Spronsen (pier@thewatgroup.com) for a detailed presentation.

This article is published in HSElife magazine No 5 (2012)

step HSE LIFE

3 TM

HSElife UNIO HSElife UNIO is a multi channel communication platform which is being used to distribute the information on harmonization initiatives of the participating operators. Through HSElife UNIO, we facilitate the development, optimization and communication of standards, best practices and important HSE information throughout the whole industry.

HSElife UNIO

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

On the previous pages, you were able to read how much R & D is at the base of HSElife UNIO. In this step, we inform you on the set up and goals of HSElife UNIO.

HSElife UNIO

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

Speaking the same, clear language regarding Safety, Health and Environment and the harmonization of rules and regulations by focusing primary on the similarities between Operators and Contractors. That is the goal the participating parties in HSElife UNIO want to achieve.

It is our vision to make the Oil and Gas Industry the safest Dutch industry by achieving Incident Free Operations (IFO). Our vision connects seamlessly with the strive of all Operators in the Oil and Gas Industry for working without accidents or incidents and free of spills or any other environmental damages. It is our mission to jointly promote further harmonization and to share HSE information through cooperation between the Operators and Contractors within the Oil and Gas Industry. We do this on the base of the objective to become the safest Dutch industry, to improve the reputation of the industry and to improve HSE performance with the possibility of saving time and money.

In the past decades, the Operators in the Oil and Gas Indus-

Several years ago, The WAT Group together with Centri-

try have made important progress in improving HSE perfor-

ca and Shell/NAM took the extraordinary initiative of the

mance and in reducing the number of incidents. After a long

harmonization of rules and regulations on Safety, Health

period of a declining yearly number of incidents, research

and Environment used by the Operators in the Oil and Gas

now shows that this decline has stopped and a stabilization

Industry. HSElife UNIO originated from this initiative. Oth-

is notable. HSElife UNIO wants to revive the declining trend

er Operators and Contractors recognized the importance of

and work towards the zero line, towards IFO.

this initiative in reducing the number of incidents.

Within our industry, the major part of the work is being done by the Contractors. They usually work for various Operators and every Operator has their own, slightly different version of safety rules. This variety in HSE information can lead to

We strive for an industry in which health, safety, environ-

unintentional errors, which in turn may cause the occurrence

ment and optimal performance are in perfect harmony and

of incidents. Therefore, our primary focus is to offer unam-

where all employees are persuaded of the importance of

biguous HSE information to the Contractors.

HSE. HSE should be the focal point in everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. According to our vision of the future, the HSE theme will be supported by a new company culture, thus working towards Incident Free Operations in the coming years.

HSElife UNIO

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

HSElife UNIO offers a joint platform where different visions

Within the set up and structure of HSElife UNIO, the right

on working safely are being connected with each other. Only

modus has been found to realize all ideas concerning har-

by working closely together with the Operators and Contrac-

monization. Heading HSElife UNIO is the Steering Commit-

tors can we jointly strive for further harmonization and the

tee, consisting of a number of NOGEPA and IRO members.

sharing of HSE information. Through HSElife UNIO we fa-

Among others, the Steering Committee bears responsibili-

cilitate the development, optimization and communicating

ty for all organizational, strategic and financial aspects of

of standards, best practices and important HSE information

HSElife UNIO’s further development and related products

throughout the whole industry.

and materials. The HSElife UNIO Steering Committee will install Work Groups, which will formulate uniform and standardized HSE information on different subjects.

HSE INFORMATION It is essential to the success of HSElife UNIO that the HSE information is easily accessible. www.hselifeunio.com is the platform which makes it possible for everybody working at North Sea offshore locations and Netherlands office locations to gain access to essential information anytime. www.hselifeunio.com is also “tablet proof”. Concise and unambiguous HSE information is being made available through easy-to-read brochures. These brochures are meant for use on the shop floor and they contain information on subjects relating to daily work activities. Additional information about these subjects is being made available through video presentations for use during work preparation, such as toolbox meetings. Apart from these, we also produce video presentations in which each subject is being explained in a concise and understandable way. On the website, several HSE documents and video presentations are available on subjects such as H2S, NORM/LSA, Asbestos, Natural Gas Condensate and Benzene.

hselifeunio.com

HSElife UNIO

Onscreen presentation folders A6

HSE guidelines

H januari 2012

video

BENZEEN HSE LIFE THE INTERNATIONAL OIL&GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

HSE guidelines

januari 2012

BENZEEN HSE LIFE

Interactive video

screens

THE INTERNATIONAL OIL&GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

Interactive refresh courses

screens

Questionnaire

HSElife UNIO

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

In order to ensure optimal information accessibility, we have developed the HSElife UNIO app which can be downloaded free of charge for smart phone use. The HSElife UNIO app offers direct access to all information on the website – anytime, anywhere, at Offshore and other locations. THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS

In addition to the harmonized HSE information, HSElife

INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

UNIO offers standard training modules on subjects such as Induction Offshore and Onshore, Permit to Work, Task Risk Analysis and Last Minute Risk Analysis.

An important industry wide initiative such as HSElife UNIO needs a strong communication channel: HSElife magazine. In a way, this online magazine is the driving force behind the HSElife UNIO initiative as a whole. News, opinions, hot issues: they all play an important role in the magazine. Free

of charge, HSElife magazine is being made available to all

WINTER EDITIE

personnel within the industry. All HSElife magazine editions

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE for Oil & Gas industry

can be found on the HSElife UNIO website.

Durf jij het?

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE for Gas & Oil industry

oktober 2011

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE for Gas & Oil industry

In dit nummer:

ANDERE TIJDEN, NIEUWE INFORMATIE

INCIDENT FREE ORGANISATION

VAN HET PAARD EN DE WAGEN

STAP VOOR STAP

WIJ MAKEN DE ONDERKANT...

32 HSE A JOINT EFFORT

en meer...

4 DE HSE LIFE UNIO FOUNDATION

16 VERVANGEND WERK...

veilig rijden Thema:

in winterse omstandigheden

go! stand you? HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE for Oil & Gas industry

We all

WE HEBEN NU DE KANS...

OVER ‘VERSCHILLEN’ GESPROKEN

What’s in it for

In dit nummer:

pagina 2

GOEDE GEZONDHEID

VEILIGHEID DOOR HARMONISATIE

NATUURKUNDE, SCHEIKUNDE EN...

JAN LOVES APPLES AND PIET OF PEARS

VESSEL SHARING CONCEPT

VOORBEREID OP CALAMITEITEN

CONNECTED OP DE WERKPLEK

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INTERACTIVE INDUCTION OFFSHORE

PTW EN TRA TRAININGEN

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HSELIFE MAGAZINE Not receiving HSElife magazine yet? Register now at thewatgroup.com.

pagina 35

Q2 2012

together

pagina 2

In dit nummer:

Q3 2012

januari 2012

On your marks, get set,...

pagina 2

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE for Oil & Gas industry

Q4 2012

en meer...

step HSE LIFE

DE IMPLEMENTATION We communicate the thought behind the HSElife UNIO harmonization trajectory as widely as possible. We inform Operators and Contractors on how to apply the HSE documentation to their daily work. This is crucial in preventing unsafe actions and situations which can lead to personal injury, pollution or material damages.

THE IMPLEMENTATION

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

DE IMPLEMENTATION You now have gotten an impression of who we are, where we come from and where we stand. Our next step is to concentrate on the implementation of HSElife UNIO.

THE IMPLEMENTATION

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

The implementation of HSElife UNIO means that we are discussing with the Oil and Gas Operators the development, optimizing and communicating of standards, best practices and important HSE information. In fact, we are integrating HSElife UNIO in the organizational culture. We communicate the thought behind HSElife as widely as possible.

Among other things, on request we go to the Operators and Contractors to get our message across. We do this by means of (personal) presentations. We are in dialogue with

This means that this person knows the organization well and uses the right means and methods to reach and moti-

info/promo material

Focal point

helpdesk

vate everyone within the organization. In other words, he

workshops

presentations

Q&A s

+ Contractor

he or she brings the message further in the organization.

HSElife UNIO

(a focal point). This person is very important to us because

feedback

Company

the person who is our contact person within the organization

training/ workshop

or she conveys HSElife UNIO’s message both verbally and non-verbally throughout the organization.

provided by TWG

We support the focal points in visualizing our message. For

Furthermore, we use the online HSElife magazine. This

this we use various means. In order to have the desired ef-

magazine is the driving force behind HSElife UNIO. In this

fect, HSElife UNIO must be visualized throughout the in-

magazine, you can read everything that is being said or writ-

dustry by using a recognizable theme. HSElife UNIO must

ten about the Oil and Gas Industry. It gives you an honest

become relevant within the whole industry and become set

and clear impression on what is going on and you can read

in everyone’s mind and actions. That means all Operators

unbiased opinions. This e-zine contributes considerably to

and Contractors personnel, be it Onshore, Offshore or Of-

the development of the harmonization.

fice. In order to realize this goal, HSElife UNIO will make available to the focal point of each organization the proper means of communicating our message. Such as training materials and information which underline our message. The focal point will give presentations and workshops, will organize interactive and classical trainings and seminars for Operators and Contractors personnel. Supported by us.

THE IMPLEMENTATION

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

Our industry is a hazardous one. The excavating and processing of oil and gas is a dangerous operation, being performed under heavy and potentially dangerous circumstances. Small mistakes can have large consequences. Unsafe situations and actions can lead to personal injury, pollution or material damages. By implementing HSElife UNIO we want to reach the goal of making the Oil and Gas Industry the safest Dutch industry by achieving Incident Free Operations in the years to come. Moreover, through the implementation we will also improve the industry’s reputation and HSE performance. Another important aspect is the saving of time and especially money. All this connects seamlessly with the strive of all Operators within the Oil and Gas Industry towards working without accidents and incidents and free of spills or any other environmental damages.

In our industry, most of the work is being done by Contractors

Through HSElife Unio, we promote and support the safe-

who usually work for several Operators. But every Operator

ty culture within the Oil and Gas Operators. A culture in

has their own, slightly different safety rules. Therefore,

which people feel free to offer suggestions on improve-

the Contractors are being confronted with a variety of HSE

ments within the organization. Moreover, a culture in

information which can easily lead to unintentional mistakes,

which health, safety, environment and optimal perfor-

which in turn may lead to incidents occurring. This is why

mance are in perfect harmony and where all personnel are

our priority lies in offering unambiguous HSE information

persuaded of the importance of HSE. HSE should be top

to the Contractors. It is HSElife UNIO’s mission to work

of mind in everybody’s work. A successful safety perfor-

together with the Operators and Contractors in the Oil and

mance is the result of a combination of a well developed

Gas Industry in the field of HSE.

pattern of rules and a high awareness of standards.

step HSE LIFE

5 TM

THE FUTURE We strive for an industry in which health, safety, environment and optimal performance are in perfect harmony and where all personnel are persuaded of the importance of HSE. In our vision of the future, the theme of HSE will be completely imbedded in a new organizational culture with the aim for Incident Free Operations in the coming years.

THE FUTURE

A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE

“IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING, TO BE AWARE OF THE RISKS INVOLVED, TO KNOW THE COMMITMENTS AND TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY.”

THE FUTURE

Roel van de Lint Chief of Operations, Dutch State Supervision of Mines

“HSElife UNIO is an incredibly strong collaboration between the Operators which enables especially Contractors and Subcontractors to work in the same way and which ensures that they receive unambiguous signals from their commissioning companies,’ says Roel van de Lint of the Dutch State Supervision of Mines (SodM). ` Shop floor personnel already have so many things on their mind and by clarity and unambiguity in the way of working, accidents can be prevented.”

`The point of harmonization is mainly to insure the safety of

`In reducing the number of accidents involving serious per-

the men and women on the shop floor. It is of the utmost

sonal injury, our industry is on the right track, but there is

importance to know what you’re doing, to be aware of the

still room for improvement. For instance, the subject of ex-

risks involved, to know the commitments and to commu-

posure to dangerous substances needs more attention than

nicate clearly. The investigation of the Macondo disaster

it gets now. Looking at the incidents of which we had to file

showed that the company culture plays an important role

a penalty report, exposure to asbestos is on the top of the

in the causes of accidents. Accidents can be prevented in a

list. In the drilling and production process, many different

culture where people are constantly aware of the vital im-

substances are being used that are dangerous to be exposed

portance of communicating, helping each other and invest-

to. In preventing exposure, one should start at the source by

ing in time. This way people feel more involved and gain

asking oneself if the use of this particular substance is really

more knowledge. HSElife UNIO creates the right conditions

inevitable or if a less dangerous alternative is available. One

for such a culture.’

of the common hazardous / carcinogenic substances used within our industry is Benzene. It comes with the production of natural gas condensate. Exposure may occur when people are unaware of the risk or when they don’t even know that dangerous substances are present. It is the responsi-

THE FUTURE

bility of the Operators to be continuously alert. But for the individual worker, knowledge of the risks is also important. For by being involved and working together, everyone can contribute to safety and health improvement. Moreover, it is important to make a thorough Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E) of the dangerous substances in place. We have found out that some of these RI&E’s are incomplete and out of date, resulting in an incorrect list of dangerous substances. When something like this happens, I naturally wonder if the right protective measures have been taken. But I know that the Operators are working hard on this issue. Other activities involving penalty reports are the hydraulic hoist activities, where fingers get squeezed or people lose their fingertips but fortunately escape otherwise unharmed. A thorough work preparation is vital to prevent these kinds of incidents. But you also have to know who the responsible

`Knowing what process safety is has to be a priority to the (sub) contractor. He has to know which substances are present in the installation, otherwise there’s the risk of unintentional and unknowing exposure to dangerous substances, for him and others. So think first, estimate the risks, make sure that the right control measures have been taken and only then you can go to work. To ensure a correct risk inventory and an adequate work preparation, it is also important to have up-to-date process drawings of the installation, for instance in case the installation needs to be secured. The development of a number of leading KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) for process safety is another key initiative in preventing major incidents. The industry is currently working hard on those. Moreover, the SodM has encouraged the industry to implement recent recommendations regarding the fire in 2005 at the Texas City refinery.’

people are, which commitments have been made and to act accordingly.’

`A good start is half the battle. This proverb applies particularly to our industry. I am therefore very pleased that HSElife UNIO promotes the Working Permit, the Task Risk Analysis and the Last Minute Risk Analysis through running demo’s on their website. The implementing of new systems is the hardest thing and therefore it is best if everyone works with the same system. We should always remember that every day we face hazardous situations. A thorough work and work process preparation is therefore vital.’

“SodM is the supervisory body for three ministries (Economic Affairs, Social Affairs and Employment, and Infrastructure and Environment). We aim our inspections at the barriers meant to prevent undesirable events from occurring. Every five years, we formulate a strategic program in which we have included risk analyses. Our program can be found on our website www.sodm.nl. In our program, we consider certain events which have occurred in the past years. But we also look at developments and to the future. This way, our supervisory program comes into being. This is a short summary of the subjects we will look into, based on risk

THE FUTURE

categories. The highest priority is given to high risk subjects where barriers fail regularly. We have identified these subjects based on our inspection results and especially based on thoroughly investigated incidents which have occurred both inland and abroad. These so called Class A subjects are included in our inspection program every year. The integrity of the platforms is a good example of a Class A project. Another example is Well Control. These are important subjects on which we will focus during the next five years. Our supervisory program also states that we will investigate gas leakages every year. And, of course, the earlier mentioned subject of dangerous substances. In our investigation we include the European decree “ REACH”. Furthermore, a number of other subjects to be inspected are included in our supervisory program. This way, careful monitoring through our “Thermometer Inspection Program” continues.”

“Concerning the integrity of platforms, we momentarily focus on the lifespan of a platform. We already came to certain agreements on this topic with the NOGEPA branch organization. The key words here are lifetime extension. The most important questions are “Can the integrity of an installation designed to last a certain period of time still be guaranteed and what do we need to do to make sure of this?”, “To what measure are the installed control measures still up to standard of technique – is the status quo acceptable or do we need to replace certain parts of the installation?”, “Under which conditions is it still safe to work at a platform?” and “ How do we deal with the topic of lifetime extension in general?” With NOGEPA we have agreed upon the development of a guideline with which the Operators will work. On the base of this guideline, Operators can formulate their maintenance and renovation programs, thus creating maintenance programs formulated by the Operators themselves. We inspect on a system level which means that we make sure that the industry itself will interpret these maintenance programs properly.”

“We have ascertained a decline in the number of gas leakages. We are very pleased with the cooperation between NOGEPA and SodM in this area. Because of it, we gain more and more insight in causes and numbers. Naturally, our goal is to reduce gas leakages to zero! Because under certain circumstances, every gas leakage can potentially cause disaster. Among other things, the NOGEPA Work Group occupies itself with the detection of the basic causes of gas leakage and investigates the possible implementation of improvement initiatives. Thus, by working closely together, through harmonization and by learning from each other, improvements will continue to be found.”

THE FUTURE

“There is a European trajectory regarding dangerous substances called “REACH”. The whole chain is involved in this trajectory, starting with the manufacturer. He has to be aware of the field of application for the substances he sells. The supplier produces Safety Information Leaflets (SIL) which must be registered at ECHA in Finland. The Operators have to make sure they use the correct and most recent Safety Information Leaflets for the specific application of dangerous substances. The leaflets contain the protective measures to be taken. The ultimate goal is for people to know the risks and how to deal with them. It is important to check every time if general preventive principles can be applied and to make sure at the source not to get exposed to dangerous substances.”

“Through this project, we monitor to what measure the Operators follow up on our inspection results of high risk projects from the past. We feel it is important to keep on giving our attention on this. In the past five years, we have seen that the Operators have made good progress because of it. This year, we plan to include several new subjects in this inspection project. The accommodation, for instance. We are wondering if the integrity of the “ explosion walls” has not been compromised. In other words: should an outside explosion occur, will the people within the accommodation still be safe? Sometimes you see that potential sources of ignition (f.i. temporary electrical equipment) is being put in an inappropriate, potentially explosive place. This is also a new issue. Logic dictates that incidents such as those of Macondo and Elgin will lead to new issues which will in turn create new SodM priorities.”

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances

THE FUTURE

WE ALL MOVE IN THE SAME DIRECTION “JOIN US! DON’T THINK ONLY ABOUT YOURSELF, THINK OUT OF THE BOX! BY HARMONIZING WE ALL WIN.” This was the answer Edwin Harteveld gave us when we asked him the following question: ` What advice do you offer to Operators who are not yet participating in HSElife UNIO?’ We talked to Edwin about HSElife UNIO and the harmonization of internal rules and policies within the Oil and Gas Industry. Edwin is Lead Health and Safety Specialist at Chevron Exploration and Production Netherlands B.V.

THE FUTURE

“Through HSElife UNIO, we can make sure that we all move in the same direction and speak the same language. Foremost, this is vital to the Contractors. Some time ago, the Contractors warned us that a revolution was necessary within the Oil and Gas Industry. For they experience all the different rules and regulations issued by the various Operators. These differences lead to confusion, conflicts and accidents. The goal of HSElife UNIO is to prevent these potential hazards by offering unambiguous information to the Contractors. We are clear on where we stand and what we

“In fact, by joining HSElife UNIO we make a common and

expect. There is still a long way to go, but the participating

most important journey. A journey leading to Incident Free

Operators have the will and the commitment necessary. The

Operations. The process of harmonization will not put the

Contractors applaud HSElife UNIO.”

brakes on our journey. The message we constantly convey is “This is our route and this is our plan.” This way, we indicate clearly which path we have chosen and where we want to go. During our journey, we learn from the feedback given by the Contractors. We apply the feedback. Another important

“It is of the utmost importance that we keep listening to the Contractors and keep the dialogue going. We want to learn from incidents. Sharing Safety, Health and Environment information is vital. It is an ongoing process. After all, we all want to achieve Incident Free Operations. That means that we continuously have to inform our people and that we must offer them adequate training programs. HSElife UNIO can play an important role in this.”

“The harmonization of the internal rules and policies within the Oil and Gas Industry is the driving force not only behind working more safely but also behind working together. It “forces” us to look beyond our own patch so that we can take a big leap ahead together. By harmonizing you can also improve your internal processes. There is a lot to be gained from a thorough work preparation and planning. It enables you to know upfront how to do your work and you won’t be surprised or unclear on things. Through HSElife UNIO, we create the conditions for working safely. Harmonization will resolve many problems Contractors encounter. Through HSElife UNIO, we clearly indicate how we, as a Dutch industry, want to do our work.”

element is the sharing of information and best practices. This journey also implies that people become more aware of unsafe actions. They need to step out of their daily routine and change their behavior. At Chevron, we offer our employees Working Safely coaching trajectories. In these coaching trajectories, HSElife UNIO is a wonderful tool. Moreover, HSElife UNIO is a great asset to our regularly held Contractor Day.”

THE FUTURE

K C JA NTS E M E L P IM Sjaak THE NORTH SEA COWBOY 47

THE FUTURE

Sjaak THE NORTH SEA COWBOY

It’s a warm day in march when I drive up to the ‘Black Swan’ in order to meet Jack. On arriving I see Jack sitting outside. His face towards the sun, a cigarette dangling in his mouth, a beer in his hand. I walk up to him saying “Enjoying the good life now Jack?” Without moving or opening his eyes he replies: “Just lovely, ‘twas about time this big yellow ball would show up again. Reminds me of the spare moments offshore. Feet on the railing, cigarettes, a beer. Who needs a vacation? Unfortunately that witch of mine thinks differently. Anyway...” He firmly puts down his empty glass. I understand this subtle hint. “I’ll go get you a beer Jack.” “Very good love.”

When I get back I notice a series of brochures in front of him. “Wow Jack! Are you reading about all the developments in the field?” I ask him with amazement. He gives me a cold look and spits on the ground. “I am not reading that trash. There was this fellow here couple of days ago. You know, the toddler-in-tuxido type of man. Found me because of your writings. Asked me how I liked these booklets. What was he thinking?? Pages are too hard to use as toilet paper, so just get rid of them. At a certain moment he asks me in this snooty way: ‘Mister Drost, have you got any advice on how to implement all this.’ I would think so! I inplant nt my whole life already. What Jack wants, Jack does. That’s the bottom line. Like I said before ‘Do what you must do. Watch your self, for if everyone watches himself, everybody is being watched.’ It’s as simple as pie. Who needs implementation or whatever?!”

When he turns his face to the sun again, burps and says: “Love this sun in my face.” I understand we closed the subject.

Jack Drost aka N.B.

THE FUTURE

HSElife UNIO: SAFETY BY SHARING INFORMATION “Both literally and figuratively speaking, safety within our industry is vitally important,” says Johan Atema. “When an accident occurs, wherever within our industry, the whole industry suffers. Therefore, I wholeheartedly support the HSElife UNIO initiative. Our industry plays an exemplary role in the field of working safely.”

Johan Atema

is Asset Manager Land at

Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM).

THE FUTURE

“INCIDENT FREE OPERATIONS IS NOT A SET ELEMENT NOR IS IT SELF-EVIDENT, BUT RATHER A CONTINUOUS STRIVE FOR OPTIMAL SAFETY.” INCIDENT FREE OPERATIONS (IFO) “By introducing IFO, a way of working arises which for

Achieving IFO is a process demanding time, explanation

everyone within our industry is concrete, clear and most of

and attention. It is a trajectory to be repeated over and over

all unambiguous. That means everybody Onshore, Offshore

again. There is absolutely still much to gain in this respect.

and Office, from Operator to Contractor. This way we want

People should be aware of their role and responsibilities.

to keep the risk of incidents and accidents occurring as low

The right attitude is an important aspect. When working

as possible. Working this way, however, won’t cut the deal

closely together it is not always easy to confront each other

on its own. Incident Free Operations is not a set element nor

on wrong behavior. That is why we train our supervisors to

is it self-evident, but rather a continuous strive for optimal

ask someone in a friendly and amicable way to adjust their

safety. I truly believe in this approach.’

behavior. But we also train them to get the message clearly across when something goes wrong.’

Incident Free Operations means “ No Harm” and “ No Leaks” during our daily activities. We want everybody working at our locations to go home unharmed and healthy, everyday. Also, we don’t want incidents to happen, such as leakage or explosions, which may damage the environment and/or the installation. In other words: Goal Zero!

“ACHIEVING INCIDENT FREE OPERATIONS IS A PROCESS DEMANDING TIME, EXPLANATION AND ATTENTION.” ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR “We have already had great breakthroughs in the technical design of the machines we use. Also, adequate guidelines are in place. The challenge we are confronted with now lies more in the behavior of personnel and in how they handle the machinery and the guidelines. In other words, how they put theory into practice. The practice not only at office locations but also all other locations where many of our people work.

THE FUTURE

LISTENING CLOSELY “Apart from getting your own message across it is also important to listen closely to the things people on the shop floor are confronted with. They have a lot of experience and often know exactly where danger lurks. Therefore, when listening closely, solutions can sometimes be simple. Illustrative is the example of an 800 kilograms heavy container that fell out of a hydraulic hoist because the driver had forgotten to secure the container with a locking pin. The Contractor subsequently designed a simple alarm which warns the driver if the locking pin is not in place. Within two days, this alarm was installed in all hydraulic hoists.”

“WHEN LISTENING CLOSELY, SOLUTIONS CAN SOMETIMES BE SIMPLE.”

SHARING INFORMATION “Within NAM, we share such information through the CASOS with all Contractors and the branch organizations. In this way, every time we take a small step ahead. HSElife UNIO is an essential part of the process of sharing relevant information on the continuous improvement of safety. It is in everybody’s interest.’

PRESERVING KNOWLEDGE “In the ten to fifteen years ahead, much knowledge, experience and knowhow will be lost due to people retiring. At this moment, the average age of NAM employees is 55 years. A large group of baby boomers will disappear out of our sight in the near future. HSElife UNIO plays an important role in the preservation of knowledge. This has to be done better structured than we do now and we will put a lot of effort in this during the coming ten years.”

THE FUTURE

IMPLEMENTATION HSElife UNIO â&#x20AC;&#x153;All

things considered, I think the implementation of

HSElife UNIO is going well. People are willing to cooperate and share information. HSElife UNIO makes sure that the information really gets from one organization to the other. One of the strong HSElife UNIO features is the preserving of information and the recording of best practices. This way others can make use of it and we can maintain the right level of information flow in the years to come. More than once we have shown that within our industry, we can cooperate well. In my opinion, achieving Incident Free Operations is therefore absolutely feasible.â&#x20AC;?

THE FUTURE

CONTRACTOR HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY

MANAGEMENT DAY We spoke to Chevron Exploration and Production Netherlands B.V.’s Sander Aalbrecht about the Contractor Health, Environment and Safety Management (CHESM) forum, organized by Chevron. Sander is Chevron’s Procurement Supervisor. He is also co-advisor to CHESM.

“CHEMS’ goal is to clarify the Contractor’s responsibilities regarding Safety, Health and Environment, to stimulate their active involvement and to offer a consistent program through which safety, health and environment related incidents and injuries can be prevented as much as possible. The CHESM forum contributes to the realization of these CHESM goals. Among other things, during this forum our Contractors are being informed on our 2013 HES targets. Moreover, we invite them to think along with us on working more safely and sharing information. We specify what we expect from our Contractors and ask them about their own expectations. The central question here is “Which competences does Chevron require?” The Contractors need to know our plans and the competences re-

THE FUTURE

quired to fulfill those plans. We want to create awareness and we expect the Contractors to anticipate our plans and needs. Finally, we feel it’s important to maintain a stable

“Through CHESM, we draw the attention to HES. Chevron

relationship with our Contractors and to improve this rela-

wants to achieve the highest possible goal: Incident Free

tionship where possible. The forum offers an excellent op-

Operations. In order to be able to achieve this, we expect

portunity for all this.”

our Contractors to be committed to HES. We inform our Contractors about what they can do and especially about what we want them to do. In other words: assuring competences. This is an important aspect of CHESM. We expect our Con-

“We want to be open and honest with each other and create

tractors to make sure that their employees are competent

a dialogue. We stimulate openness and honesty by being

for the job. The awareness concerning our expectations is an

visible and by creating opportunity. This way, we hope to be

important part of Competence Assurance. For instance: we

able to learn from each other. “Walk the Talk”, that is what

supply our Contractors with “Stop Work Authority” cards. On

we want. We don’t want HES related subjects to be con-

this card, the Chevron “Tenets of Operation” -our working

fined to the Contractors’ higher management and not reach

principles- are printed. This is our signal to our Contractors

the employees. They are the people who are being confront-

implying that they can and must bear responsibility regard-

ed with Offshore HES risks and therefore they can benefit

ing general safety by stopping work if necessary.’”

the most of a strong focus on HES. A clear agreement about expectations between Operator and Contractor can help.”

“BY WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER, WE EXPERIENCE A GROWING INVOLVEMENT OF ALL CONCERNED IN IMPROVING HES PERFORMANCE.”

“The CHESM forum contains several presentations. Our General Director will open the event by elucidating the HES results of 2012 and the HES goals for 2013. Our Operations Manager will elaborate on the projects our Contractors can expect to run in 2013. In his presentation, he will give the answers to questions like “Where do we need your help?” “In what way do we want you to help us?” and “What can we do for you?” We also show a film on the Piper Alpha Dis-

“Of each of ten Contractors who perform high risk tasks for

aster. The theme of this film is “Spiral to Disaster”. In it, you

us, we invite a senior HES and senior management repre-

can track the individual actions which eventually have lead

sentative. The CHESM forum is an interactive event. We

to the disaster. There is also an element of play. We have

expect participants to actively contribute to the success of

the Energy Wheel, a Wheel of Fortune of sorts, revolving

the event. The Chevron employee who is responsible for the

around subjects such as Motion, Gravity, Pressure, Electri-

contract acts as the focal point for the Contractors’ manage-

cal and so forth. At the Energy Wheel, the risks connected

ment representative, and at the same time for the internal

to these specific subjects are being discussed in the form

Chevron organization. The forum needs to be the catalyst,

of a quiz. This quiz is meant mainly to create awareness.

assisting the participants in sharing the forum’s knowledge

Furthermore, we share the statistics on accidents within our

and information within their own organization. In the fu-

industry in the Netherlands (Dutch Sector Accident Statis-

ture, we are planning to organize a similar CHESM forum

tics). And last but not least, we will introduce HSElife UNIO.

for employees. Each year, the CHESM forum should be on

Eventually, all these efforts concerning safety, health and

the calendar.’”

environment will contribute to a good reputation of Chevron Exploration and Production Netherlands B.V.”

THE FUTURE

HSE LIFE

HSElife UNIO aims to turn the Oil and Gas Industry into the safest Dutch industry by achieving Incident Free Operations in the year 2017. This ambitious vision is a part of our strategy towards the future, to a way of working which is free of accidents, without incidents, and free of spills or other kinds of damage to the environment.

How are we going to realize our vision for the future? Our

We actively want to involve everybody in everything at any

mission is to cooperate with the Operators in the Oil and

time. Conducting open conversations and listening to each

Gas Industry and the Contractors in the field of HSE. Only

other are crucial in this. Only then can we better understand

by working together, can we advance harmonization and the

why work is conducted in a certain way and why the circum-

sharing of HSE information. Within our future vision, HSE

stances are as they are. Based on these principles HSElife

as a theme will go hand in hand with a new corporate cul-

UNIO is developing the CARE concept, which will be placed

ture. Working safely should become a second nature.

at the disposal of the industry. CARE is based on the existing programs SMAT from the NAM and Get to the Point from Centrica. An unambiguous way of communicating will also contribute in the further improvement of our perfor-

CARE FOR PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT

mance as an industry.

This is how we started and this will also be the most impor-

The interaction between people is crucial. We are aware

tant focus of HSElife UNIO in the future: caring for people

that there are many changes of personnel. In the coming

and the environment. We have to keep on communicating

years many older and experienced people will leave our in-

about risks, daring to confront one and other about unwant-

dustry and make place for a new inflow. But in this process

ed behaviour, and institute improvements or changes which

certain knowledge is also under threat to disappear. HSElife

will benefit the quality and safety of the work. This is a duty

UNIO can play an important role in the recording, evaluation

for all of us.

and communication of this knowledge. In this way the older generation will become a coach to the younger generation, thereby utilizing HSElife UNIO as its platform.

THE FUTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

We are convinced that the implementation of HSElife UNIO

HSElife UNIO is convinced that we can achieve Incident

will lead to an improvement in performance and a future

Free Operations, provided we keep on developing and im-

reduction in the number of incidents in the industry. But we

plementing trailblazing communication trajectories and ap-

must keep on realizing how big the impact of certain past

ply the most modern technologies to develop new safety

incidents has been. For the conviction that such incidents

concepts for the on- and offshore employees. As a part of

and accidents must never happen again has been the moti-

this strategy, the The WAT Group has founded the HSElife

vation behind the development of HSElife UNIO. We must

UNIO LAB.

never let our attention weaken and we must never forget lessons learned in the past. Learning from past incidents shall be a recurring theme within HSElife UNIO. By highlighting incidents from the past in an interactive way, we want to bridge the gap with the present.

HSE LIFE

LAB

CONTROLLING RISKS HSElife UNIO strives for a one hundred per cent of risk con-

The HSElife UNIO LAB is a think tank that consists of a

trol within our industry. We can realize this by making use

number of visionaries who use their knowledge and experi-

of ‘Barrier Thinking’. Barriers are formed by using the right

ence to come up with new and functional solutions for the

design, use of proper tools and equipment, our well-trained

future of the Oil and Gas Industry. Their power is to think

personnel, and set procedures and rules and regulations.

beyond borders, outside of the box, and to develop new and revolutionary applications using new and existing technol-

Whenever one of the barriers would be broken, a potentially

ogies. In line with HSElife UNIO, central themes include

dangerous situation is created by the failing of material or

safety, health, wellbeing and the environment as well as

the non-compliance of set processes, procedures, standard

efficient working.

or rules and regulations. If these situations are not reported and no action is taken, then all barriers could be broken.

Cooperation with the industry is a requirement to test the

A small mistake could then have large consequences, from

ideas on their viability. As an industry we must keep abreast

personal injury and damage to the environment to damage

of the latest developments and apply new technologies in

to the assets, plant or equipment. It is in everybody’s inter-

a clever way so as to increase safety levels even further.

est to prevent this.

Towards our aim: Incident Free Operations.

By cooperating well, listening to each other and by taking action whenever something is under threat to go wrong, we can uphold our barriers and make risks fully controllable. After all, the barriers are there to ensure that a potential risk can be removed even before the actual problem can occur.

HSElife UNIO IS PREPARED, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

Want to know more about our vision of the future? Go to the HSElife magazine no 9

for industry, by industry HSElife is a forum for those working in the petroleum and natural gas industry. HSElife focuses particularly on those working wherever HSEW is really an issue or really should be an issue: on the shop floor. HSElife magazine is published by: The WAT Group B.V. P.O. Box 20033 7302 HA Apeldoorn The Netherlands Mobile: +31 (6) 462 95 25 6 (7, 8) www.thewatgroup.com On this issue worked Maartje Ouwehand, Thera Idema, Natascha Bruti, Marjou Janse, Marcel van Spronsen, Veselin Raznatovic, Ramon Roelofs, Pier van Spronsen, Stéphanie van Stockum, Janine IJssel de Schepper, Bob Janssen, Marc van Baasbank, Paul Schilperoord and the Members of the HSElife UNIO Steering group: Piet van Dam, Ronald Pijtak, Jan Jager, Sietse Wijnstra, Gerard Burgers, Sander Floore, Rik van der Zee, Felicia Wolting, Edwin Harteveld, Frits van der Wilt, Jürgen Joosten, Jan Popken, Ben Waardenburg and Mark Been. Please e-mail any comments about subjects discussed in this magazine to info@thewatgroup.com attn. Janine Ijssel de Schepper. Articles may not be taken from this publication within the meaning of Article 15 of the Netherlands Copyright Act.; © The WAT Group B.V. 2013

THE NATIONAL OIL & GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS