DOIRC: An Effective Communication Tool in Improving Drilling Safety Culture

Abstract

Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) Drilling Division and its Contractors have managed to reach and maintain world class performance in HSE for the past three years and recorded the lowest Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR), the second lowest Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF) in ADCO's Drilling Division history and the longest time without LTI (Eighteen months without LTI). In addition we have recorded zero car related injuries and zero spills in 2011. ADCO believes that the most fundamental factor affecting HSE performance is what is commonly referred to as "safety culture". The strongest influence upon culture within most organizations is "the message from the top management". DOIRC (Drilling Operations Incident Review Committee) program improved subsequently both vertical (ADCO management and rig site) and horizontal (ADCO and its contractors) communication and was a key factor in setting in place an effective 360° communication. The success of the program shows clearly that the behavior of all stakeholders in Drilling can be changed by an effective communication, visible commitment and involvement from the top management. By keeping a permanent physical and contact between drilling crews, service providers and top management of ADCO and its Contractors, the impact on the safety behavior of the drilling crews was changed since then. The DOIRC program was the key factor for ADCO Drilling to reach and maintain a world class performance for the past three years, reaching 0.52 TRIR in 2011, the lowest in ADCO drilling history and more than twenty million kilometers driven without injuries.