Health and safety 2018 resolutions

Written by John Reynolds

December 20th, 2017

Health and Safety Articles

rts

We’re fast approaching the New Year which means businesses and individuals across all industries will be evaluating how 2017 went. Assessing what went well, and what could be improved for the upcoming year.

No need to fret about how to improve your health and safety protocol, we have provided you with New Year plan with our top 5 safety tips:

1# Process safety: lead by example

Leadership is essential in developing a positive process safety culture. The apple never falls far from the tree, so it is imperative that boardrooms sound positive safety tones which echo across the whole of the organisation from directors, to site managers, to operators.

The operation must then work as a collective body to ensure safety remains atop of the agenda, rolling out effectively implemented and robustly maintained systems.

2# Work hard to make the regulator happy

The Health and Safety Executive placed a renewed focus on process safety during the past 24 months with a tightening of regulations. So, whilst industry should be applauded for its efforts thus far, we still have much to do.

3# Roll out a dedicated programme of training

There is, of course, no such thing as a perfect health and safety procedure. Companies must therefore regularly evaluate their safety culture and performance, continually improving resources to enhance key skills and knowledge around process safety.

Making profit is important, but safety is crucial. After all, a process will be further delayed by an avoidable accident.

4# Start each day by asking: are we doing enough?

The high hazard sector is, for the most part, a safe one and we are to be proud that the majority of companies work hard to ensure the safety of their site, staff and surrounding communities.

Whilst incidents such as Buncefield are rare, rare doesn’t mean extinct. Catastrophic events can be prevented if we shift our focus to prevention rather than reaction. Learning from incidents such as the Buncefield blast means we can create and implement process safety strategies designed to avoid recurrences.

5# Become more sociable

Organisations must break down corporate barriers and engage in process safety knowledge sharing with each other.

Some sites already do. Others, however, are less receptive. Those who sit on this side of the fence are often motivated by competitive protectionism – a fear of trade secrets being leaked, clouding otherwise better judgment.

We therefore need a culture change at the boardroom level to accelerate an industry-wide drive to prevent and mitigate major incidents. The idea is simple: in addition to learning from past incidents or ‘near misses’ at a company’s own site, industry leaders should talk to each other about their own experiences.

Written by John Reynolds

December 20th, 2017

Health and Safety Articles

rts