• Home
• News Article

ME Oil and gas companies to invest heavily in HSE culture and leadership, experts say

Implementing effective safety and risk management programmes, along with developing workforce competency in safety across the organisation has become a focus for major oil and gas companies in the region. According to NEBOSH Chief Executive Teresa Budworth who is delivering the opening keynote presentation of ADIPEC Health, Safety & Risk Management Forum in Abu Dhabi on 12-15 June 2011,"One of the major challenges facing oil and gas companies right now is being able to assure the competence of their staff, particularly those in safety critical roles."

With the demand for energy rising all the time, the pressure to increase reservoir yields, and a workforce of a very diverse cultural mix and behaviours working with complex chemicals and machinery, the industry is challenged in managing very complex risks each day.

"The growing multi-cultural workforce due to the rate of expansion remains the biggest challenge. There is a need to keep technical education programmes fresh and interesting, in addition to assuring that training on behavioural safety is appropriately embedded," says Alan Izzard, VP for Corporate HSE of Borouge who is also speaking at the forum.

The Middle East has recently started to crack down harder on health, safety and environmental legislation. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ( ADNOC ), for example, continuously works to promote environmental regulation for oil and gas industry in Abu Dhabi. The company and its group companies aspire to have a health and safety performance exemplary in the Middle East and Africa.

The industry, as a whole, is very high profile and has very high profile stakeholders. HSE, therefore, has been put very high up on the corporate agenda. HSE is also the main priority when winning contracts and looking to expand projects or working with international partners, and the trend has now shifted to HSE being the responsibility of every manager and employee, from top to bottom, although at varying levels.

"A golden rule for a successful HSE programme is the personal commitment of those at the top of the organisation. They set the standard and determine the priorities and where resources are directed in times of austerity," adds Teresa Budworth.

Teresa Budworth and Alan Izzard are joined by other safety and risk management experts from ADNOC , Qatar Petroleum, ADCO, Petrofac, Al Hosn Gas, Shell, Dolphin Energy, Statoil, Petropars, Schlumberger, KPC, Exterran, ENOC, OPITO, ADGAS and other leading oil and gas companies regionally and internationally, tackling important issues on building the foundations of HSEMS to meet the challenges of new age operations, closing safety gaps in CCC and EOR projects, managing effective client and contractor relationships, comparing participative vs. directive management, evaluating cost and benefit analysis of HSE investments, exploring behavior-based safety programmes and process safety management compliance, among others.

"As an industry, we need to be more effective in sharing regional resources to the collective benefit of all rather than adopting an insular approach as has been historically prevalent. We are extremely fortunate that we work in a field that promotes transparency and learning. It is essential to learn from those at the forefront. This forum provides a platform for sharing and learning," concludes Alan Izzard.

-Ends-

About ADIPEC HSRM Forum
ADIPEC HSRM Forum on 12-15 June 2011 in Abu Dhabi gathers the region's health, safety and risk management champions for 4 days of intensive discussions, debates and dialogue on the most pressing issues of today - including safe oil and gas production, safety culture maturation and ensuring that safety management is done right the first time to save money and more importantly to save lives. The forum will put focus on leadership, expertise, innovation, case studies and vision in effectively implementing health, safety and risk management, call for higher industry standards and push for new blueprints in addressing the new challenges of modern day oil and gas operations.

About dmg::events
dmg :: events have been organising high level market-leading business events for over 20 years. dmg's conferences & training division provides you with highly specialist, bespoke professional conferences and training programmes that are designed to deliver firsthand knowledge on functional and industry specific sectors. For further information visit us today on www.dmgeventsme.com.

For further information, contact:
Saudin Dungog-Noddings
Phone: +9714 438 0355
Email: saudindungog@dmgevents.com
Website: www.adipechsrm.com

© Press Release 2011