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A reflection on 2008 |
2008 was a year of progress and communication for the Step Change movement in the UK. It was also a time for reflection as we remembered those who lost their lives whilst working on and around the Piper Alpha platform 20 years ago.
This was an opportunity for the industry to ensure that the lessons learned from this disaster
are not forgotten, in particular by the new generation of workers who now populate the North Sea.
Step Change played a pivotal role in this activity, reminding management with executive responsibility for offshore facilities of the potential consequences of a failure to intervene appropriately. They were encouraged to ensure that transparent and effective indicators were in place to monitor occupational safety and process safety performance in relation to design, technical and operational integrity.
The Step Change Leadership Team continued to reinforce the established Temple Model strategies through concerted focus on the Workgroups formed in 2007 and also building on the workforce feedback received from the Boots On for Safety campaign. The
following key issues received significant attention by the workgroups during the year.
John Methven and Rick Cohagan - Co-Chairs
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| Asset Integrity |
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To address
consistent awareness and
understanding at senior
management level, particularly
on process safety issues such as
major accident hazards and
safety critical elements, Asset
Integrity workshops were
delivered to 25 Operator and
Contractor organisations and
more are planned for 2009.
- To improve sharing of
industry and HSE good practices
and lessons learned, a new Step
Change Asset Integrity website
was launched in January 2008.
- A review of the leading
performance indicators was
carried out. There is now more
focus is on hydrocarbon
releases, verification findings
and safety critical maintenance
backlog.
- An Engineering/Technical
Authority (EA/TA) workshop was
held in March - a subgroup
worked on ‘roles and
responsibilities’, an
organisational communications
package and a questionnaire to
maintain involvement of EAs/TAs.
- A publicity programme was
launched to raise the awareness
of the positive activities and
initiatives of Step Change in 2008
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| Competency |
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A total of 9 Minimum Industry Safety Training Standards (MISTS) were developed by the Competency workgroup and OPITO:
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These will be applied by all companies and organisations in the UK Oil & Gas sector with the standards applying to all people who work offshore.
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Compliance is expected to be endorsed by all companies, trade associations, unions and other interested parties and tracked by the Vantage passport system.
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Prior experience and training will be accredited via industry agreed norms through skills testing.
New starts to the industry programme will commence in Q2 2009 with the eLearning process for experienced workers ready later in 2009. |
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Control of Work |
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A Common Permit To Work (PTW) Essential Rules pocket card was developed from HSG250, the HSE Guidance on permit to work systems. A briefing pack accompanied the launch on 8th October 2008 at the combined OIM / Focal Point network meeting.
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The Control of Work
Training is to be
standardised as follows:
- Basic principles covered in Minimum Industry Safety Training Standards course for all new starts - MISTS
- Control of Work Competence Standard and Training established as the industry standard
- ISSOW Users Performing Authority Training established as the industry standard
- Operator / installation specific ISSOW differences handled as part of a specific installation induction process
- Harmonise the
application of ISSOW
across all user
companies via the ISSOW
User Group Control Board
- Non ISSOW Users to be
encouraged to follow the
Essential Rules of
HSG250 Guidance
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SI971 Safety Reps Checklist |
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Step Change Guidance Documents Checklist templates have previously been drawn up to help companies ensure Step Change penetration in their own processes. The latest document will help check the effectiveness of safety committees and compliance with the legislation. These are published in the ‘Resources’ section of the website and member companies have been encouraged to use these to ensure effective Safety Committees are in place. |
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Well Services Operations Guidance |
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The Well Services trade association, WSCA, worked with the industry and Step Change to produce a document giving guidance on the Safety of Wireline Operations. |
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Hydrocarbon Release Reduction Toolkit & DVD |
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 The original document published by UKOOA has been updated and will be released as a Step Change document early in 2009. Shell revisited the video produced by the Leak Reduction Team in 2001 and launched a new DVD, Hydrocarbons Release, Zero Tolerance! This was made available to Step Change in 2008. |
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Data Sharing Workshop |
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Oil & Gas UK ran this workshop to meet the
Industry’s commitment to the HSE for wider data sharing and increased transparency with regard to safety performance and to improve sharing of information and key lessons within the industry. For the first time, companies were able to see how they are performing in relation to their peers on reportable injuries, dangerous occurrences and hydrocarbon leaks. |
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Norway exchange visit |
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An exchange visit was made to Stavanger to meet with ‘Working Together for Safety’ (Norway’s Step Change equivalent) in August. Not surprisingly, similar safety issues are being worked by Norway albeit their Forum is somewhat different from ours – the UK Step Change in Safety Forum is unique in that the Leadership Team is made up of company Managing Directors & Chief Executives whereas the Trade Unions are the mainstay of the Norwegian Forum. |
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Reshaping of the Step Change Teams |
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A review of the Step Change Leadership, Support Teams & Constitution took place in 2008. The Leadership team membership was expanded from 22 to 30. The Support Team has now been revitalised with permanent Oil & Gas UK staff appointments made to provide a long term support foundation. |
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Website upgrades |
| The Step Change website was recently given a well earned facelift. Further enhancements will take place over the coming weeks, including revisions to the Incidents area giving access to editable versions of certain alerts for use as training (TBT) aids and a new Personal Responsibility for Safety (PRfS) area allowing users to undertake an online assessment. |
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Significant Events in 2008 |
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A Step Change in Safety Business Breakfast was held on 20th August at the Beach Ballroom and the Co-Chairs of Step Change were the principal speakers.
A Managing Directors’ Leadership event held on 6th February, followed by the Safety Leadership Day on 27th May, focused on delivery of the new Step Change in Safety Charter commitments.
2 Share Fairs to promote the sharing and adoption of best practice were held at Pittodrie Stadium on 16th April and 2nd October.
Network meetings at Pittodrie Stadium: 2 Elected Safety Reps and 2 combined OIM/Supervisor & Focal Points meetings were held. Focus has been on the rejuvenation of the OIM, Supervisor & Focal Point networks to bring them in line with the success of the ESR forum.
An extraordinary Step Change Leadership Team/Oil & Gas UK Board meeting was held with Lord MacKenzie, Minister responsible for Health & Safety on 24th October in Aberdeen. Lord MacKenzie was briefed in regard to the progress the industry was making concerning safety related matters. |
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