Research shows that human factors have contributed to several industrial incidents, from high frequency to low severity injuries to catastrophic events involving multiple fatalities. The oil and gas industry has recognized that reducing the impact of human error in the reliability of upstream operations is imperative. This paper explores the application of the behavior science on land rigs at an oilfield services company and includes examples from operations in four countries in the Middle East and Latin America. The first phase of the initiative identified critical workflows, tasks and critical behaviors. These were measured for potential variances. A critical workflow, in respect to personal safety, was tubular and tool handling on the rig floor. To establish a baseline performance, the variability from expected safe behaviors of rig crew members was measured. By applying the principles of behavior science an intervention was conducted including feedback and reinforcement of desired behaviors. Direct and indirect observations by HSE supervisors were used to study behaviors and prepare structured feedback reports. Initial baseline measurements of behavior demonstrated significant levels of variance. Increased adherence to expected and desired behaviors was observed with changes to the work environment. Providing soon and certain feedback to the crews to reinforce desired behaviors led to significant and sustainable improvements in performance. Enhanced procedural adherence resulted in zero rig floor safety incidents while handling tubulars and tools for the operations involved in the initiative, some of them since 2014. The results of this initiative demonstrate the success of behavior science application to safety critical work tasks on a rig floor.
One of the major challenges for a company’s health, safety and environment (HSE) organization is to engage a significant part of its workforce in key HSE programs and campaigns. Participation of the workforce may not always meet expectations, and as a result, companies have been reacting in many different ways and have tried to apply various strategies—from recognition programs to accountability initiatives—to try and improve participation in HSE activities. An oilfield services company’s HSE organization launched a safety leadership program seeking to increase the participation of its employees in specific HSE programs and activities. This paper presents an overview of this Safety Captain, All Leaders program, which was launched in Mexico during early 2013 with potential to expand its application worldwide. The case study presented included participation by rig contracting companies and their employees.
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