WIRELINE ISSUE 27 SPRING 2014

NEWS ROUND-UP SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES

HEALTHAND SAFETY

Executive; and represent theirplatform and constituency at opendays, forums and specialmeetings. Williambelieves that “regardless of how things have always beendone, if you believe they canbedonebetter then nothing shoulddiluteyourpotential”. He adds: “Weoftenconvinceourselves that things cannot be changed…that is simply

incident investigation and independent inspections. Agroupof 18ESRs are also fully engagedwith theStepChange agenda byparticipating in itsLeadershipTeam meetings.And theHealth andSafety Executive’sOIACWIG (Offshore IndustryAdvisoryCommitteeWorkforce InvolvementGroup) has joinedwith StepChange to create aWorkforce Engagement SupportTeamwhere safety representatives can come together and address shared issues. Ultimately,ESRs shape the safety agenda offshore.TheUKOil andGas Industry SafetyAwards, organisedbyOil&GasUK andStepChange inSafety, recognise this fundamental role safety representatives playoffshore and thework theydo to the best of theirpotential. Formore information, pleasevisit www.stepchangeinsafety.netand www.dnv.com. Bookingsareopen for the UKOilandGas IndustrySafetyAwards ceremonyon30April.Visit www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/events/uk_oil_ and_gas_industry_safety_awards.cfm.

lessons of thePiperAlphadisaster on6 July1988.LordCullen’s report into the tragedy in1991 included recommendations on safety committees and safety representatives. The roleof ESRs areoutlined in StepChange inSafety’s SI971guidelines whichoffer aprescriptive and absolute requirement tohave a safety committee onevery installation– as emphasisedby

“We are in a position where we can make positive changes. But you can’t just wish it or want it, you have to embrace it and do it.”

not true.AsESRs,we are in aposition wherewe canmakepositive changes.But you can’t justwish it orwant it, youhave toembrace it anddo it.” Moving forward together Development trainingopportunities forESRs are availablewith four two-daymodules runbyDetNorske Veritas (DNV).With a strongemphasis onpractical learning, the course focuses on theunderstanding, interpretation and reviewof safety caseswithmodules onmajor accident hazards, risk analysis,

LordCullen.Today, thedaily routine of ESRs differs between companies, platforms and individuals but thekey factor binding them together is thatESRs are highlymotivated individualswilling togive their time andeffort toengagewith the widerworkforceon safety. Supportedbyongoing training,ESRs provide two-way communicationbetween theworkforce andmanagement; build relationshipswithonshore andplatform management, first-line supervision and inspectors from theHealth andSafety

TheUKOil andGas IndustrySafetyAwards areheld annually,with this year’s ceremonyon30April inAberdeen. About 500people attended last year’s event

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