2024 Industry Data Report
Can AI unlock hidden insights to improve HSE performance and prevent incidents?
Introduction
Step Change in Safety has partnered with Empirisys, experts in data science and technical process safety solutions, to redevelop the E-Obs platform. This collaboration sees Empirisys integrate their advanced analytics tool, Boost, seamlessly into the E-Obs platform as a premium add-on.
E-Obs Enhanced by Boost harnesses AI and Machine Learning to help HSE and operational personnel maximise the value of their observation data and empower the workforce with suggested actions and categorisations.
Our 2024 Industry Data Report powered by Boost's advanced AI model, examines the 24,000 observation data submissions in E-Obs from January 1, 2024, to December 16, 2024.
It provides valuable industry insights into what happened in 2024, highlighting the significant value AI and Machine Learning can bring to our industry by identifying new trends and providing instant access to previously unreported themes. With Boost, organisations can make a substantial impact on safety and asset reliability today.
Initial Release - Key Capabilities
Automated Hazard & Life-Saving Rule Identification
Streamlines the submission process for the workforce, and enables HSE and operational personnel to spot trends and weak signals more effectively. As a result, the number of correctly categorised observations significantly increases.
Suggested Corrective Actions
Boost analyses observation text and recommends corrective actions, making it easier for reviewers to determine the next steps and ensuring all necessary corrective actions are captured.
Key Safety Theme Identification
Using advanced machine learning algorithms, Boost generates unique critical safety themes within observation data. For example, it can surface topics like "Valve Isolation Management"— patterns that would be difficult for a human to detect due to the sheer volume of observations.
90% Boost accuracy & consistency. 80% of actions suggested are accepted and implemented by users. ~87% of people who use Boost once, keep using it.
Empirisys team includes data scientists, experienced HSE managers, and operations directors. They apply real industry understanding coupled with technical expertise to provide valuable and relevant, safety and productivity solutions.
Step Change in Safety is a member-led organisation which works to prevent incident and injury in the energy industry through active leadership, member collaboration and workforce engagement.
User Categorisation
Many observations are labeled under the ‘N/A’ tag for Hazards and LSRs, with ~20% of observations classified as ‘N/A’ for both.
24,148 Observations submitted
49.7%
Have No Hazard Labels
56.6%
Have No Life-Saving Rules (LSR) Labels
With a significant proportion of Hazards and Life-Saving Rules remaining uncategorised, organisations miss a crucial opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of emerging trends.
This gap in data classification reduces visibility of potential risks, making it more challenging to identify patterns and weak signals.
As a result, the ability to implement targeted, proactive interventions to prevent incidents is significantly limited, potentially impacting overall Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) performance.
Hazard Categories Remapped
By enhancing these observations with Boost, we gain a more complete and accurate picture of the Hazards. This improved classification allows assets, companies, and the wider industry to delve deeper into specific categories, uncovering patterns and weak signals that might otherwise go unnoticed. With this level of insight, organisations can make more informed decisions and implement proactive measures to mitigate risks more effectively.
Users vs Boost | Re-distributing user selected categories via Boost’s Smart Suggestions
Recovering Weak Signals
Re-categorising 43.2% of observations that were labelled with the ‘N/A’ hazard resulted in hazards like ‘Mechanical’ and ‘Motion’ jumping up the order massively, elevating weak signals that would otherwise be lost.
Hazard N/As Redistributed
When the previously uncategorised Hazards are reassigned by Boost, Human Factors emerges as the most prominent category. This highlights a critical area that requires further investigation to pinpoint specific risks and underlying causes. By gaining deeper insight into these trends, organisations can take more targeted actions.
The below visualisation details the hazard categories identified by Boost, that were previously marked as ‘N/A’ by users.
Re-Distribution of ‘N/A’ Hazards by Boost
18.5k
Hazards Identified by Boost, missed by submitters ~10%
Of all observations submitted were missing the Human Factors label ~15%
Of all observations submitted were missing the Mechanical label
Life-Saving Rules (LSR) Categories Remapped
By redistributing Life-Saving Rules (LSRs) through Boost, we can immediately see that while not all observations will have applicable LSRs, the number previously categorised as "N/A" has been reduced by half.
This results in a much more accurate picture, providing HSE and Operational Personnel with greater clarity on areas of focus, and enabling more precise identification of trends.
Users vs Boost | Re-distributing user selected categories via Boost’s Smart Suggestions
Recovering Weak Signals
LSR N/As Redistributed
When the previously uncategorised LSR are reassigned by Boost, several key focus areas become immediately apparent. This highlights the need for further review to better understand the underlying risks and determine the appropriate actions required to address them effectively.
The below visualisation details Life-Saving Rules (LSR) categories identified by Boost, that were previously marked as N/A by users.
Re-Distribution of ‘N/A’ LSRs by Boost
10.3k
LSRs Identified by Boost, missed by submitters ~4%
Of all observations submitted were missing the Line of Fire label ~5%
Of all observations submitted were missing the Work Authorisation label
What Happened After Boosting?
Boost’s Categorisation
After Boosting, many observations which were labeled ‘N/A’ for Hazards and LSRs, now have a more informative tag.
Hazards
Have No Hazard Labels 2%
12,006 total observations
460 total observations
Have No Hazard Labels
Boost identified at least one Hazard in 97.5% of previously unlabelled observations (11,707 total), detecting a total of 18,912 hazards.
Life-Saving Rules (LSRs)
Have No LSR Labels 24.9%*
13,665 total observations
6,003 total observations
Have No Hazard Labels
Boost identified at least one LSR in 65.8% of previously unlabelled observations (8,992 total), detecting a total of 10, 354 LSRs.
n summary, utilising Boost on observations would have enabled users to gain a full understanding of Hazards and LSRs, by reducing the number of observations marked as N/A , and providing a more comprehensive view of observation data.
his would in turn ensure that no critical insights get lost, allowing for a deeper analysis of emerging trends.
quipped with this clearer view, interventions and improvements can be precisely targeted to the areas that need them most, enhancing overall risk management strategies.
Some Examples When Boosted
providing value for the asset
Boosting your observations is simple, in terms of suggested actions, and the company in terms of trends and potential areas of focus.
As available in the system Would have been predicted by Boost
Observation
Action Taken
While checking a reported burning smell within instrument workshop I found that an inspection door had been left open on the air handling unit, this has likely caused damage to the heater electrical controls but more importantly allows supply air to be fed into the instrument workshop bypassing the smoke and gas detectors
Secured inspection panel door and checked all others on the air handler
Around 1 month ago we received an Obs card about storing 2 chemicals together that could create a chlorine cloud if accidentally mixed.
Unfortunately I found the same chemicals again stored on the same bund.
I have removed chemicals and stored them on different bunds away from each other.
Hazards Type Electrical & Safety Systems Human factors & Chemical
LSR Bypassing safety control Bypassing safety control
Boost Suggested Action
Immediately close the inspection door on the air handling unit and conduct a thorough inspection of the heater electrical controls for any damage. Ensure that the air handling unit is properly sealed to prevent supply air from bypassing the smoke and gas detectors. Raise awareness with workforce.
Immediately separate the two chemicals and store them in different, clearly labeled bunds to prevent accidental mixing. Conduct a review of storage procedures and provide additional training to personnel on the importance of proper chemical storage. Implement regular inspections to ensure compliance with storage protocols.
The above examples show how, in greater detail, when observations are enhanced with Boost, incomplete fields are automatically populated, ensuring a more thorough and accurate record.
One of the key benefits of Boost is that it goes beyond simply addressing the immediate Hazard — it helps identify and propose broader corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
As a result, the likelihood of similar incidents happening again is significantly reduced.
Key Safety Themes
The next generation of observation reporting
safety themes
Given a set of Observations, Boost’s machine learning algorithms identify by analysing the submitted text.
This feature is available in-app through the ‘Industry Topic Analysis’ dashboard, enabling you to drill down into the observations to gain insight into hidden trends, reviewing their frequency and pull forward the observations linked to each topic.
As part of our 2024 data analysis, 34 Key Safety Themes were identified. Some selected examples are:
Topic Highlights
Observations contained in each topic for 2024
Safe Unsafe
Effective Waste Segregation
Safety Hazards with Cable Trays
Door Safety Management
Oil Drum Storage Compliance
Ladder Safety Management
Crane Operation Safety
Muster Point Management
Valve Isolation Management
Night Time Disturbances
Personal Protective Equipm
Helideck Safety Operations
Barrier Management
Gas Monitor Management
Critical Pipe Corrosion
Water Valve Leaks
Fire Extinguisher Management
Walkway Hazard Mitigation
533
This analysis offers valuable insight into emerging trends, allowing operations and HSE teams to efficiently navigate through thousands of observations to pinpoint key areas for intervention and improvement
By leveraging this feature, HSE and Operational Personnel can significantly reduce the time spent manually analysing individual observations to identify trends. Instead, they can focus their efforts on improving HSE performance, with ready-to-use insights providing a clear and immediate understanding of key safety themes and areas requiring attention.
This capability not only helps in targeting the right focus areas but also enables ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of implemented improvements, by tracking the occurrence of a specific theme over time.
Key Safety Themes
Operator prevalence of unsafe observations
The prevalence of unsafe conditions identified in Boost’s key safety themes, showed a . consistent distribution between the top 7 users by operator
Unsafe Observations - Operator Distribution
Share of key unsafe themes seen between top 7 operators
Operator A Operator B Operator C Operator D Operator E
Operator F Operator G
Water Valve Leaks
Walkway Hazard Mitigation
Valve Isolation Management
Safety Hazards with Cable Trays
Personal Protective Equipm
Oil Drum Storage Compliance
Night Time Disturbances
Muster Point Management
Ladder Safety Management
Helideck Safety Operations
Gas Monitor Management
Fire Extinguisher Management
Effective Waste Segregation
Door Safety Management
Critical Pipe Corrosion
Crane Operation Safety
Barrier Management
24k+
Industry Obs. in 2024
Little insight via traditional reporting 34 Key Safety Themes
Uncovered with AI machine learning
Hidden Insight
Unlocked in Seconds
Previously unknown and unreported
At an industry level, the data reveals no significant outliers among the main users of E Obs, with an even distribution across the identified topics.
This suggests that many organisations are facing similar challenges, reinforcing the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective learning.
By working together, companies can develop more effective strategies to address common safety concerns and drive industry wide improvements.
What follows in the next few pages is a curated deep dive on key safety themes which are deemed to be important at an industry level. The format of the pages is consistent . At the top, the automated information extracted by E Obs Boost is provided, with an interpretation below of the results made by Technical experts.
Through Boost s automatically provided insights, time and effort spent on HSE analysis was reduced significantly compared to the time it would have taken to start from multiple individual observations.
Key Safety Themes
Topic Deep Dive | Valve Isolation Management
Fully AI Generated - As available in Boost
Valve Isolation Management
Valve Isolation Management
The observation documents revolve around the identification and maintenance of valve positions, tags, and locks, particularly in critical systems like fire water supply and safety systems. They highlight instances of incorrect valve positions, missing or incorrect tags, and potential safety implications due to valves not being locked open as per requirements. There are also concerns regarding the tagging and identification of valves, particularly for critical and controlled status valves.
Safe Observation Highlights
Recognition of Critical Valves
Attention to Detail
: Engineers and tec nicians de onstrated attention to detail in noticing issing or incorrect tags on valves, preventing potential safety azards
Team Communication : Good observation fro tea e bers identifying incorrect valve positions and issing tags, t us ensuring t e safety of critical syste s
: Effective co unication and s aring of concerns a ong tea e bers, leading to t e identification of aintenance issues of critical valves.
Unsafe Observation Highlights
Inconsistent Valve Maintenance
Instances of valves being found in incorrect positions, issing tags, or not locked open as per require ents indicate inconsistent aintenance practices
Safety Disregard
Recurring instances of valves not being locked open, despite clear safety instructions, de onstrate a disregard for safety procedures and potential risks in e ergency situations
Identification and Tagging Issues
Issues with valve identification, tagging, and controlled status valves highlight potential confusion and risks in critical syste s, indicating a need for i proved labelling and tagging practices.
Peer Reviewed Insights
10 Minutes Exploring observations within this theme 44%
16%
Incons stent documentat on: P&ID's, tags, permits and test pac s
Procedural non-compl anceand naccurac es
Instances of valves be ng found n ncorrect pos t ons
M ss ng tags/ ncorrect tags
Non-Leg ble tags
Fa lure to follow Management of change process
Repeat observat ons
18% of unsafe obs. relate to incorrect documentation i.e. Premits, P&ID’s...
Key Safety Themes
Topic Deep Dive | Door Safety Management
The topic revolves around a recurring issue of doors on the vessel not functioning properly, being left open, or having missing or broken mechanisms. This poses a risk to personnel safety and compromises the integrity of various compartments, such as the Temporary Refuge, mud lab, and emergency exits. Furthermore, the open doors are causing damage to the equipment and creating hazards in adverse weather conditions. There is also a lack of awareness regarding emergency exits and guidelines for keeping certain doors closed.
Safe Observation Highlights
No ig lig ts
Unsafe Observation Highlights
Maint nanc Ov rsight
Saf ty Risk
: The recurring issue of doors being left open co pro ises safety by creating hazards, i peding e ergency escape routes, and affecting the integrity of co part ents and equip ent
P rsonn l Awar n ss : There is a significant oversight in the aintenance of doors, with proble s such as issing or broken echanis s and loose handles persisting
: There is a lack of awareness a ong personnel regarding the i portance of keeping certain doors closed and the location of e ergency exits.
Peer Reviewed Insights
Missing or broken mec anisms and loose andles persisting.
Doors being left wedged open, potentially impairing temporary refuge.
Lack of awareness among personnel regarding t e importance of keeping certain doors closed.
Temporary oses being run t roug doors.
Key Safety Themes
Topic Deep Dive | Hard Barrier Management
The observation documents reveal instances of poor barrier management, including incomplete barriers, barriers with no signage, and barriers left in place with no work being carried out. The lack of clear communication, incorrect information on barriers, and barriers hindering emergency escape routes are significant concerns.
Safe Observation Highlights
No ig lig ts
Unsafe Observation Highlights
Incom lete Barriers
No Signage
: Several instances of inco plete barriers were noted, posing a safety hazard and leading to confusion
: Nu erous barriers were found to have no signage, aking it difficult to understand the purpose of the barriers and who is responsible for the
Obstructed Esca e Routes
: Barriers were observed obstructing designated e ergency escape routes, potentially co pro ising personnel safety
Lack of Clear Communication
: The lack of clear co unication regarding barriers, including incorrect infor ation and illegible signage, presents a safety risk
Barriers with No Work Being Carried Out
: Several instances of barriers being in place with no active work being carried out, leading to unnecessary obstruction.
Peer Reviewed Insights
10 Minutes Exploring observations within this theme
22%
of unsafe observations relate to missing, damaged, or illegible signage. 28%
Hard Barriers were found to ave no signage, making
13%
of unsafe observations relate to people crossing barriers.
to understand t e purpose of t e barriers and w o is responsible for t em.
Obstructed escape routes. Incorrect information and illegible signage, presenting a safety risk. Examples of people crossing barriers
Key Safety Themes
Topic Deep Dive | Potential Dropped Object
Fully AI Generated - As available in Boost
Dropped Object
This topic discusses multiple instances of potential dropped objects and loose fixtures, including grating, cable trays, and support structures. These instances pose risks of tripping hazards, falling objects, and potential damage, which need to be addressed to ensure a safe work environment.
Safe Observation Highlights
No ig lig ts
Unsafe Observation Highlights
Lack of Secure Fixture
: Several instances of loose grating, cable tray, and unsecured fixtures pose potential hazards and need to be rectified to ensure safety
Potential Dropped Object Prevention
: Proactive measures should be taken to prevent potential dropped objects, such as securing fixtures and addressing corrosion to mitigate risks
Safety Awarene
: Regular inspection and maintenance are crucial to identify and address potential hazards to maintain a safe working environment
Tool Safety Practice
: Employees should be reminded and encouraged to adhere to safe tool handling practices to prevent potential dropped objects and hazards
Weather Impact Con ideration
: Consideration should be given to the potential impact of adverse weather conditions on infrastructure and fixtures, as seen with the cable hanging and swinging due to the adverse weather.
Peer Reviewed Insights
10 Minutes Exploring observations within this theme 17% of unsafe observations relate to tools and equipment being left on site. 15% of unsafe observations relate to damaged/corrode handrails and gratings.
Tools and equipment left on site, creating potential dropped objects
Duplicated observations
Missing fixings
Integrity issues with handrails and gratings.
41% of unsafe observations relate to damaged or missing fixings.
Key Safety Themes
Topic Deep Dive | Lighting Conditions
The topic focuses on the issue of poor lighting and lighting maintenance across various work areas and equipment on the vessel. Observations highlight instances of inadequate lighting, non-functional lights, and potentials safety hazards due to poor visibility. These issues pose safety risks and hinder efficient work practices, especially during night shifts and in critical work areas. Additionally, there are concerns about hte poor condition and maintenance of essential safety equipment such as lifebuoys and life raft lights.
Safe Observation Highlights
No ig lig ts
Unsafe Observation Highlights
Lig ting Maint nanc
Saf ty Equipm nt Condition : Inadequate lighting maintenance and non-functional lights across multiple work areas pose safety risks and hinder efficient work practices : The poor condition and maintenance of essential safety equipment such as lifebuoys and life raft lights is concerning and may compromise emergency preparedness.
Peer Reviewed Insights
10 Minutes Exploring observations within this theme 25% of unsafe observations relate to damaged, faulty, or missing lighting
of unsafe observations relate to poor or inadequate lighting 32% of unsafe observations relate to damaged or compromised emergency lighting.
Damaged or faulty lighting
Missing light fittings
Poor/inadequate lighting in work areas
Defective, damaged, or otherwise compromised emergency lighting.
Key Safety Themes
Topic Deep Dive | Walkway Trip Hazards
Fully AI Generated - As available in Boost
Walkway Trip Hazards
Walkway Trip Hazards
The topic revolves around the presence of air hoses, water hoses, and other utility hoses causing potential trip hazards as well as posing safety risks in various work areas. The hoses were found to be disconnected, suspended at inappropriate heights, lying across walkways, and in poor condition, presenting the risk of personnel injury and fall hazards. Additionally, the absence of warning barriers and proper storage facilities for the hoses contributed to the potential hazards. A need for improved hose management and storage procedures to migrate tripping and injury hazards is evident.
Safe Observation Highlights
No ig lig ts
Unsafe Observation Highlights
Hazard Id ntification
: Lack of proper identification of potential trip azards wit t e oses placed across walkways and work areas
Hos Storag
: Need for improved ose storage facilities and procedures to prevent oses from causing trip azards
Condition Monitoring
: Identification of damaged and degraded oses wit out proper colour coding and identification.
Peer Reviewed Insights
10 Minutes Exploring observations within this theme
32% of unsafe observations relate to oses being ran across walkways.
26% of unsafe observations relate to equipment being left on site.
Poor ose management leading to trip azards
Equipment left on walkways causing an obstruction
Poor ousekeeping Integrity issues.
8% of unsafe observations relate to emergency response equipment.
Key Safety Themes
Topic Deep Dive | Safe Lifting Operations
Fully AI Generated - As available in Boost Safe Lifting Operations
The topic focuses on observations of deck crew and drilling personnel carrying out various tasks, demonstrating good communication, teamwork, and adherence to safety practices. The positive aspects include excellent communication, good teamwork, proper use of safety tools, and adherence to safety procedures. There are no negative aspects mentioned in the provided subset of observation documents.
Safe Observation Highlights
xc ll nt Communication
: Good and clear communication was observed between deck crew, crane operators, and other involved parties
Good T amwork
: Demonstrated good teamwork between drill crew, deck crew, and operators in various tasks
Saf ty Tools Usag
: Proper use of safety tools such as tag lines and safety sticks was demonstrated during lifting operations
Adh r nc to Saf ty Proc dur s
: Adherence to safety procedures and practices, including the use of barriers and correct lifting practices
ffici nt Task P rformanc
: Tasks were carried out safely and efficiently, demonstrating good management and control of the operations.
Unsafe Observation Highlights
No ig lig ts
Peer Reviewed Insights
10 Minutes Exploring observations within this theme
Barrier and signs in place
Boost’s Benefits
Boost saves ~ 10 days of effort per 1,000 observations*
freed up time can be spent on more valuable work
This such as acting on the key insights to reduce risk, on training and supporting the workforce, etc.
Provides a complete picture of Identified Hazards and LSR’s
Identifies trends, topics, and weak signals
Enhances performance monitoring on individual topics at an Asset, Company and industry level
Visibility of trends and whether action taken is reducing risk
Extracts key themes from large number of observations
Enables early indication of weak signals allowing for proactive intervention
Enables and enhances workforce engagement and feedback
Provides sustainable SMART action suggestions
Acts as an additional learning tool for personnel on Hazards, LSR’s and Process safety barriers
Through this report, we have demonstrated how the usage of Boost could lead to improved risk management across the industry, through enhanced identification of Hazard and LSRs, and Key Focus Areas.
This would ultimately lead to a reduction in incidents.
*Results based on a controlled test of 150 highly curated observations from a major oil & gas operator that were analyse by a team of five SMEs and by Boost.
A categorisation accuracy greater than Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)** 90%*
Boost accuracy & consistency 65% SME accuracy & consistency ~87%
4 out of 5 people who use Boost once, keep using it.
** Based on SME’s reporting that they spent about 5 minutes reviewing and analysing a single observation card.