Hazards in Operations: Tools for Success

By Gay Wathen, NOV

HSE starts with the commitment from the top of the organization through the ranks with the same focus every day – to have everyone go home in the same shape as when the shift started.

Working in an operations setting can create many risks if there is not an awareness of those hazards. To have the employees educated and trained to identify potential issues for harm to individuals or equipment is the most efficient way to prevent incidents.

Start each day with a “tool box talk” to address any issues, such as near misses, weather alerts, preventative training, changes within the operation, etc. This will make all employees start the day with HSE in mind. Have each member of the team present the lesson, so that everyone is engaged and responsible for a message.

Monthly safety meetings are the most efficient way to address a broader issue that is not specific to a particular operation. This is a good forum to have employee input, management insight and team building. Sign-in sheets are necessary so as to identify those workers that were absent and need to be informed individually of the subject matter covered in the meeting.

Implement “Stop Work Authority” that gives responsibility to each worker to stop an operation if there is an unsafe act. Identify safety leaders for reporting any unsafe acts so that the incident can be investigated.

Confirm that all employees have the proper equipment training and are up-to-date with refresher courses. This would encompass forklifts, cranes, working from heights, etc. Accurate record keeping is critical.

Establish a communication system between the workers and management. This may be a suggestion box or observation cards, which will give a voice to the workers in your operation to share ideas for improvements or potential hazards. Address these during safety meetings to let the employees know that management is planning for or considering each issue. Establish a committee to manage these and create timelines for corrections or implementations.

Implement a “lock out/tag out” practice to protect workers from operating an unsafe machine or eliminating a potential hazard. Verify that there are proper locks for each type of instance that may occur. Identify the lock needed for a specific operation and train the operator as to the proper use if an incident occurs or to prevent an incident.

Identify the proper PPE for each operation and check it regularly to ensure that it is not damaged. This seems so simple, but it takes only a second to strain a back, break a finger or get a particle in an eye. If the employee doesn’t have the training with the proper PPE, there is a greater risk for injury. This can be addressed on each Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) that should be reviewed before starting any operation.

Good housekeeping will help in preventing slips, trips and falling objects. Establish the safety barriers with painted lines and keep aisles clear. Remove clutter in the work area to have necessary space to perform the task. Everyone in the facility is accountable for this task and should be aware of their surroundings. Being organized will help the employee be more effective and efficient.

Misusing tools and machines are the most prevalent causes of workplace injuries, and all workers should be trained prior to use. Scheduled maintenance and inspections are critical for prevention of incidents. Identify “homemade” tools and gather information from operations/engineering to replace them with OSHA safe tools. Many jobs will require multiple tools for one operation but attempt to find universal solutions. Discuss best practices. Once tools are identified and replaced there may need to be training for the proper use of the tool.

Share the knowledge and findings among all the other operations within the organization. The organization may use best practices methods, safety alert notices or lessons learned notices to make all employees aware of the hazards.

Being consistently pro-active is a diligent process that will result in a safer environment for all assets including the most important assets – our employees.

Gay Wathen

Gay Wathen is Vice President Mobile Rigs at NOV and Chair Emeritus of the Energy Workforce & Technology Council.