The Power of Procedures: Evaluating and Enhancing Oil & Gas Safety

Procedures are a fundamental aspect of any high performing organization or system. They provide a structured framework for carrying out tasks and help ensure consistency in performance.

The key to getting the best results from procedures? Follow them diligently.

The Purpose of Procedures

Procedures exist for a reason. They are designed to promote efficiency, safety, and quality. In your everyday life, you may follow a specific routine when you get ready for the day or complete tasks to ensure you’re starting off on the right foot. However, in high-stakes industries such as oil and gas drilling, following procedures is crucial for preventing accidents, injuries, and even fatalities, referred to as SIFs (serious injuries and fatalities) at H&P. By adhering to procedures with an Actively C.A.R.E.™ (Control And Remove Exposures) mindset, individuals can avoid unnecessary mistakes and maintain a high level of performance. Procedures provide a set of guidelines that everyone can follow, regardless of their level of expertise or experience. In the oil and gas industry, where the workforce is often fluctuating, this standardization is essential. Organizations can maintain uniformity in their operations, demonstrate a commitment to consistent processes, and most importantly – help keep others safe.

Consequences of Deviating from Procedures

Deviating from procedures in the oilfield can have serious consequences. It can lead to errors, costly damage to equipment, downtime, or even a SIF. When we deviate from established procedures, we introduce uncertainty and increase the risk of failure. By not following procedures, we compromise the effectiveness and reliability of the system we are working with. Additionally, not following procedures can negatively impact company culture, undermining trust, and eroding teamwork within the organization.

Evaluating Procedural Understanding

So how do we evaluate our workforce’s understanding of the procedures we so desperately rely on? H&P’s LifeBelt Success Checks help us do just this.

H&P LifeBelts were developed to highlight those activities with the highest likelihood to result in a SIF. Establishing and honoring buffer zones and barricades is an example. We know that tubulars being transported with the forklift represent a significant SIF exposure, so we enforce a buffer zone around the forklift equal to 15 feet, or the length of the tubular, whichever is greater. LifeBelt Success Checks enables supervisors with the ability to continually assess their crew’s awareness and understanding of buffer zone and barricade procedures like these.

Pre-populated question sets help supervisors facilitate a discussion with employees to gauge their understanding of the LifeBelts and related operational procedures. These discussions also afford the employee the opportunity to point out situations in which completing the task in accordance with H&P’s LifeBelts may be difficult or non-enabled. This feedback is critical to determining the need for coaching, provision of additional training tools, changes to procedures and even equipment design. Feedback from the individuals that perform the work to the leaders and creators of work plans carries a great deal of importance: procedures and work plans must be continuously evaluated for accuracy and adjusted to reflect the actual process for completing the work safely.

Strengthening Safety

Procedures – essential for maintaining efficiency, consistency, and accountability – are one of our best lines of defense to maintaining a safe work environment. Let’s be sure we follow them as we Actively C.A.R.E. for ourselves and others!