INTRODUCTION TO THE QHSSE DEPARTMENT
The Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (QHSSE) Department of Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) targets multiple safety aspects of our overall operations.
Our QHSSE Advisors conduct daily field trips at our locations to devise ways in which we can improve our systems to maintain progressive levels of safety awareness. We ensure that quality services are provided safely.
CREW C ANNEX
CREW B ANNEX
CREW A ANNEX
CREW A MAIN BASE
CREW B MAIN BASE
CREW C MAIN BASE
LEAH MILO QHSSE COORDINATOR
SALIM OCTOBER SECURITY COORDINATOR
WAYNACE FORDE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR
INTRODUCING OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
At GYSBI, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement, particularly in our safety practices and operational procedures. With this commitment in mind, we launched the GYSBI YouTube channel. This initiative serves a dual purpose: it empowers our workforce by involving them directly in the creation of compelling and educational content, and it provides our staff with an accessible platform to engage with this content.
The primary aim of this endeavour is to enrich our Safety Culture by transforming the requirements of our Safety Management System into content, which will be easily understood and interesting to watch. Think of it as a creative space for our team members to share their safety tips and tricks, while learning from each other.
This approach ensures that our safety protocols are more than just rules; they become an integral part of our collective daily operations, enhancing both knowledge and compliance.
Click on the links below view our current YouTube videos:
Safe Start 2024
Correct Reporting
Working in Adverse Weather Conditions
GYSBI’s
Recordable incidents are illnesses or injuries, which require medical or convalescent care greater than first aid.
In 2023, GYSBI significantly reduced the recordable incident rate.
All incidents are thoroughly investigated to determine the root cause and develop corrective actions aimed at preventing recurrence.
The QHSSE Department has implemented robust systems, which are constantly improving safety performance at GYSBI.
Keep reading to see how we did it!
REWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS PROGRAM
The Go Arc Gamification - GOARC Gamification Module was introduced in 2023 for the management of points gained under the Protect Your Wicket Safety initiative. As points are obtained through the completion of activities such as safety reports, badges are automatically assigned to each personnel. Points accumulated are used to rank teams in the safety championship.
Once these points have been tabulated, at the end of every quarter, the top 30 users, who are drawn from various departments, receive grocery vouchers worth $10,000 as well as electronic devices.
QUARTERLY REWARDS GIVEN IN 2023:
ON THE SPOT REWARDS
An ‘On the Spot Reward’ programme was also introduced to recognise employees, who based on a recorded safety intervention, would have gone above and beyond their duty to stop an unsafe act or adverse condition.
FINISH STRONG PROMOTION
As a further means of recognising and rewarding Safety Interventions, a raffle with the grand prize of a 75 inches Flat Screen Television, was launched in November 2023. Receipients of the ‘On the Spot Reward’ programme as well as Weekly O&I Card winners were eligible to participate in this draw. Patricia Herbert, a QHSSE Advisor from Crew C, walked away as the winner of this prize.
STAFF RECEIVING REWARDS ON THE SPOT
PATRICIA HERBERT - WINNER QHSSE Advisor, Crew C
WAME IMPROVEMENTS
WAME (Working Around Mobile Equipment) covers methods used to separate staff from the dangers of handling and working around mobile equipment.
PACE (Peer Assisted Cold Eyes) WALKTHROUGH
In 2023, a “PACE Walkthrough” was done by Client Reps and GYSBI Management to highlight areas for improvement while working around mobile equipment.
WAME IMPROVEMENTS
Several Improvements were implemented following the PACE Walkthrough. EEPGL shared 50% of the improvement costs. These included:
1. Pedestrian Walkways
2. Mobile Red Zone Demarcation
3. Reverse Cameras and Alarms
4. Banksperson equipped with Vest, Neon Gloves & Hard Hat Covers
5. Barriers and One way signs in the Parking Lot
6. Designated Parking Area for Equipment at the Annex
QUARTERLY BLOOD DRIVES
The QHSSE Department has played an active role in organising quarterly blood drives on the Base. These quarterly blood drives have resulted in 90 units of blood being donated to the National Blood Bank in 2023.
GYSBI was also recognised and awarded by the Ministry of Health for its continous contributions to the National Blood Bank, which is tasked with ensuring that there is an adequate supply of blood for medical emergencies.
QHSSE CERTIFICATIONS & AWARDS
QHSSE CERTIFICATIONS
Through the work of the QHSSE Department, GYSBI was able to achieve its ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certifications. These certifications are testament to the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction through our Quality Management System and applying health and safety measures into our work processes.
Since being certified, ISO 9001 & 45001 surveillance audits were completed by GCS in November 2023. All 17 non-conformances from the certification audit in 2022 were completed, and only 1 new minor non-conformance was raised. This further demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement within the organization.
QHSSE AWARDS
GYSBI was recognized by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards for stellar contribution to Occupational Health and Safety Services.
LEAH MILO, QHSSE Coordinator, receiving the National Quality Award
NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AWARDS
In 2023, GYSBI received several awards from the Ministry of Labour’s National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) in three categories, namely:
• Young Worker Category
• Individual Category
• Workplace Category
KWESI ROBERTS Young Worker Category - Winner
TOMMY STEVENS Young Worker Category - Runner Up
ALLAN LAMBERT Individual Category - Winner
GUYANA SHORE BASE INC. (GYSBI) Workplace Category - Runner Up
SAFE CHOICE QHSSE TRAININGS
In 2023, GYSBI embarked on the Safe Choice Training Programme, which is geared towards equipping all members of staff with the tools needed to make better and safer choices in all facets of their personal and professional lives.
Senior members of the QHSSE Team were sent on two (2) consecutive weeks of training to be able to deliver the Safe Choice content to every staff within the company.
Since its launch, the Safe Choice Training has been delivered to 512 persons or 79% of GYSBI’s employees
HUMAN PERFORMANCE
Human Performance is about making it easier to get right and harder to get wrong when and where it matters the most.
The QHSSE department, in collaboration with ExxonMobil, has conducted several training sessions on Human Performance Fluency, which included a combination of personnel from GYSBI’s Leadership Team as well as that of ExxonMobil.
Human Performance and Safe Choice were the focus of the month in October 2023 by the QHSSE department in an effort to raise awareness around the consequences of nonconformances and human errors.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024 :
The Human Performance programme aims to:
• Empower GYSBI’s Leadership and Workforce in Human Performance Fluency through targeted training.
• Drive proactive safety improvements by transferring HP classroom concepts and tools (Interrupters, after-action reviews) into everyday practice.
• Streamline workflows and processes to promote safe habits and minimize human error - “Making it easier to get it right.”
• Leverage engaging communication methods, such as video and animation, to effectively convey HP messages and foster a culture of awareness.
Percentage of GYSBI Leadership Team trained in the concept of HP in 2023
KWESI ROBERTS QHSSE Performance Coach
ELROY VANKENNIE Human Performance & Safe Choice Manager
HUMAN PERFORMANCE FEATURE
Aveledo Lindie, our Drilling Warehouse Supervisor, shares his experience on the significant impact this training has had on his daily life, enabling him to continually improve and uphold safety standards.
AVELEDO LINDIE Drilling Warehouse Supervisor
The GYSBI Behavioral Safety Intervention Workshop was launched in February 2023 with the intent of enabling all GYSBI staff to intervene correctly when unsafe practices are observed. An Intervention Tool Badge was issued to each participant as an incentive and to be used as a daily guide for interventions.
This training was delivered to GYSBI’s Operational, Administrative and Construction Staff.
We remain committed to implementing effective safety control measures to ensure continuous improvements in our safety culture.
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Protecting our people and the environment isn’t just a goal, it’s our duty.
QHSSE COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT
In 2023, several trainings were made available to the QHSSE Department to develop the competence of the department’s staff and contribute to the improvement of the QHSSE Management System. Some of these included:
• NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety
• First Aid/ AED/ CPR Training
• Port Facility Security Officer Training
• ISO 9001: 2015 – Quality Management System Requirements
• Safe Choice Train-the-Trainer Program
FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
A GREENER GYSBI
GYSBI is committed to minimizing the impact of its people and processes on the environment. In 2023, several improvements were made to GYSBI’s Environmental Management System (EMS).
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The QHSSE Department has fully implemented a “Cradle to Grave” approach to waste management. All waste generated in GYSBI’s processes are manifested and logged to track the waste from source to point of disposal.
A designated Hazardous waste storage area was established for temporary storage of any hazardous waste generated from a spill/leak or from a GYSBI process.
Additionally, mobile Waste Segregation Guides were designed for the GIE Wash Bay to aid in the separation process of Hazardous and Non-Hazardous waste generated from the Wash Bay’s activities.
A Waste Inspection Form, available on Go Arc, is utilised at the end of each shift to ensure that all waste generated at the Wash Bay has been segregated according to the requirements. This form is signed off by the Foreman and QHSSE Advisor.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
The QHSSE Department has procured all equipment necessary to conduct noise, and air and water quality monitoring internally. These tests, which are required by the EPA in the Environmental Permit, were previously outsourced.
With this data, GYSBI will be able to make informed decisions with reference to its contribution to the global cause of environmental protection.
AWARENESS
To increase the awareness of environmental management efforts to staff and contractors, the following trainings were rolled out by the QHSSE Department in 2023:
NOISE MONITORING
Awareness Training
Awareness Training
Response Training
Management Awareness Training
SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
In 2023, the QHSSE department introduced several security system solutions which utilise physical protection as well as specially designed software technology to protect our property and safeguard our staff from unauthorised access and intrusions.
VISITOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (VMS)
VMS was fully implemented for visitors entering the Shore Base or GYSBI Industrial Estate (GIE). Each visitor is required to register online and complete their induction prior to visiting the base. The VMS enables us to:
• Ensure all visitors are aware of GYSBI QHSSE standards.
• Ensure all visitors are aware of emergency procedures.
• Comply with all ISPS requirements using a paperless system.
• Automatically identify banned visitors should they try to gain entry.
• Improve efficiency at the main entrance.
VMS SCREEN
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS
DRILLS
In addition to the communication of Emergency Response Procedures (ERP) and respective updates, drills are conducted to ensure that employees, clients, and contractors are fully aware of these procedures and are familiar with the relevant Safety Critical Equipment.
WITHIN EACH QUARTER, VARIATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING DRILLS ARE CONDUCTED:
EMPLOYEE CONSULTATION
JOINT
WORKPLACE
SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE (JWSHC)
The Joint Workplace Health and Safety Committee (JWSHC) was established to provide an organisational framework for problem-solving amongst management and employee representatives and to promote cooperation to ensure the safety and health of everyone on the Base.
The role of the committee is an advisory one and its effectiveness depends on regular meetings, speedy decisions by management on committee recommendations, prompt translation into action and effective publicity of discussions and decisions.
ELROY VANKENNIE Chairperson
LEAH MILO Co-chair
TENISHA BANDHU Secretary – Operations Support Assistant
SHANIA RAMDYAL Secretary – Operations Support Assistant
GIRJANAND DINDYAL Secretary – Operations Support Assistant
GOMATIE GANGADIN Committee PR Representative
CHRISTINA BENJAMIN Committee PR Representative
GENERAL WORKPLACE SURVEY
Continuous improvement is a component of the QHSSE Management System, which actively contributes to the achievement of a positive safety culture.
In 2023, The GYSBI Survey was launched via Survey Monkey to allow employees from the Operations, Maintenance and Construction departments to provide feedback in reference to their satisfaction with workplace safety, training, and general welfare.
The Survey results were analysed and presented to GYSBI’s Top Management to address the concerns of employees highlighted in the Survey.
Management’s feedback on employees’ concerns was presented at the General Safety Meetings via the ‘You Said, We Did’ board.
The success of the Survey at GYSBI resulted in it being implemented at the Gas to Energy/LNDCH4 project site to address employee satisfaction at that location as well.
SUGGESTION BOX
In 2023, Incident Investigations found that employees may fear repercussion when reporting minor incidents or other concerns they may have.
GYSBI’s QHSSE team has since introduced Suggestion Boxes, which can be found at both the Shore Base and GYSBI Industrial Estate to improve employee engagement.
Employees can now comfortably voice their concerns without fear by using the suggestion boxes provided.
This will contribute to the improvement of the safety culture among employees.
GATORADE RUNS
Management is committed to meeting and interacting with workers in-person and on the ground. This is done through ‘Gatorade Runs’. In addition to conversation, Gatorade is distributed to employees to combat the heat of the sun and refuel their bodies.
This initiative has been well received by the staff and has already resulted in positive changes.
MANAGEMENT REVIEW
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024
The 2023 Management Review highlighted key areas for improvement, looking ahead to 2024 and beyond. In 2024, the QHSSE Department aims to improve the following elements of the Management System:
Several entities awarded for promoting safety, health in workplaces
Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) Copped Multiple NACOSH 2023 Awards
