WIRELINE ISSUE 27 SPRING 2014

WilliamWatt, ofAker Solutions, reflects on the inspirational roleelected safety representatives play in the industry

Standing tall Being anelected safety representativeon anoffshore installation requires being able to thinkbeyond yourself andmake apositive impact on safety for thebenefit of thewiderworkforce. Wireline celebrates these inspirational individuals aheadof the annualUKOil andGas Industry SafetyAwards. “T heencouragement ofmypeers hasmademeembrace the role of the safety rep and through This inspirational attitude is thehallmark of agreat safety representative.William in factwas the2011winnerof theUKOil andGas IndustrySafetyAwards’ Safety Representativeof theYear categorywhile hazards.Nowworking forAker Solutions as a responsiblepersonelectrical (RPE), William remains committed tohis safety representative role. Leadingbyexample

abalanceofmymain role (electrician) and the roleof the rep I feel I am able tomake safetymeetings open, down toearth and fun,” saysWilliamWatt onbeing anelected safety representative in the UKoffshoreoil andgas industry.

heworked forPetrofac,whereoneof his achievements included aprogramme to “audit themitigations” designed to protect theworkforce frommajor accident

Elected safety representatives (ESRs)were first introduced in theUKoffshoreoil and gas industry in1989, learning from the

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THE MAGAZ I NE FOR THE UK OF F SHOR E O I L AND GA S I NDUS TRY