Wednesday 9 December 1998

Workforce Contributes to Safety Initiative

Over 340 delegates attended the Cross Industry Safety Leadership Forum (CISLF) Step Change Workforce Workshops last week to define important action points for improving safety in the North Sea oil and gas industry. The delegates represented the workforce of most North Sea platforms, drilling rigs, vessels and some onshore facilities.

Following an innovative, genuinely open style, the workshops sought to obtain the views of the workforce in a free speaking, informal environment in which every delegates views were equally important, no job titles were used - and no suits worn!

The three one-day workshops each progressed through a no holds barred open forum to identify safety issues that concerned the workforce, on to smaller, in-depth discussion groups focusing on solutions and how to move ahead. At the final session each day, the conclusions of the discussion groups on the safety issues they had identified were summarised. Delegates then voted on what they felt to be the most important issues and the actions which would contribute most to achieving the targets of Step Change.

Dennis Krahn, of the Cross Industry Safety Leadership Forum and Chair of the workshop task group, said The response of the workforce was terrific! They made a substantial input to the identification and clarification of safety issues which concern those at the sharp end of our industry. Their contributions will be pivotally important to the Step Change objective of a 50% improvement in safety performance.

Important issues included training, offshore passports, individual safety behaviour and responsibility, communications, task risk assessment, support for safety representatives and lifting/rigging operations. The detailed output on these issues will be presented to the Cross Industry Safety Leadership Forum committee for incorporation in its action plans for 1999 and beyond.

Over 200 of the delegates signed up to assist in communicating further information about Step Change to their workplace colleagues. A short video is being produced to help them tell their colleagues about the workshops and the issues emanating from them.

Added Krahn An exit questionnaire showed a 98% approval rating over the three days. This indicates that the workforce are prepared to make a huge contribution to the safety of their workplace and the Cross Industry Safety Leadership Forum has received a workforce mandate for action.

Issued for the Cross-Industry Leadership Forum by Hulse Rodger & Co

Media Contacts: Elaine Hulse (01358) 743543 or Jane Rodger (01224) 495051