QHSE V-Blog

Originally written 10 May 2015 – Still relevant!

I seldom write long comments or explanations, however after briefly reading over an article regarding safety personnel the pen which is mightier than the sword theory has reared its head again and prompted me to write this with some enthusiasm.

I began in the marine industry as standby rescue on a semi sub whilst in the shipyard for upgrade and repair – I had never seen a vessel of such size. I looked at the rig and didn’t know the first thing about drilling, equipment of any type, lifting gear or procedures. I underwent this thing called “induction” where a man stood in front of me preaching about how one should use secondary retention on tools when up at height. I must admit I only made it through the first 10 minutes of the hour and a half induction, the remainder I drifted off into my little world wondering if this job was really what I wanted. As an ILS Paramedic I was questioning why I was sitting there. The thoughts in my head drifted towards the ambulances and real life-saving situations. Not this so called important HSE man standing in front of me who I had no patience for. I was sitting there thinking “wow, this man gets paid more money than me – for standing there making a room of 50+ people fall asleep”.

Two months later I was approached by a project manager in that shipyard “would you like to join our safety team?”. At this point I didn’t know what the definition of hot work was. I knew some basic terminology on a rig, I knew the basics of how an oil rig drills and a few names including “gangway”, “muster point”, “drill floor” and the one which I was most proud of back then “bulkhead”. I jumped at the chance because sitting in a rescue container all day was torture for me. I followed safety officers, HSE managers and QHSE Advisors around for a month like a lost puppy in a war zone. Every day I was learning on the job new things, new words, I had a headache at the end of every 14 hour shift I completed. I walked over to the BOP, pointed and asked the Senior HSE Advisor “what’s that?”. Those questions continued everywhere I walked, every day, every chance I got to ask any person in the know, I did. Without shame I asked the questions, there were times I got the typical rude answer, the majority of the time I got valid answers by people who could see all I wanted was to learn.

I had NO paperwork. NO certification. NO knowledge other than that which had been taught by the personnel on site. I was then handed the task of giving my first induction. I walked up and down outside the induction office, my heart racing, remembering back to that safety man who gave me my first induction. I remember promising myself that I would never be that boring safety person – that one person who makes a room of people stop caring about going home safely at the end of the day. I took a deep breath and told everyone it would be the best induction of their life. Their induction lasted 45 minutes and included memorable examples, laughter and interaction between all in that room.

About a week later I was told “you will be moving to a project and taking over as Senior HSE”. Never being one to shy away from a challenge I accepted the position and began. I openly told people that I would ask a lot of questions, to please assist me with what I didn’t know and that they would only have to tell me once. (PLEASE KEEP IN MIND I STILL HAD NO CERTIFICATION OR PAPERWORK FOR ANY HSE QUALIFICATION)

I completed that project injury free, I then moved onto the next and the next, also injury free. I then completed my Nebosh International General Certificate under duress knowing that the oil and gas industry requires the paperwork. To this day I have not used what was taught in those books. I have used the day to day practical experience and knowledge I gained from the advisors and safety officers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I’ve picked the brains of drillers, barge masters, chief mechanics, chief electricians as well as welding foremen and firewatchers. Today is day 123 injury free on the project I am currently on – a high percentage of the work force made up by local community who were once like me and had never even seen an oil rig before their first induction.

To those who want to speak about “experience and knowledge” coming out of a book, you are sorely mistaken. There are some things that can only be gained by giving people a chance. I would rather bring a safety officer onto one of my projects who has no qualification but a desire and drive to help people go home safely, than someone with a wealth of knowledge who spends his time walking around shooting the breeze with management because of the inability to speak with the men who are in danger daily, the ones that are performing the work. The ones who are in the line of fire daily who require the help of a strong willed safety person to back them up in an industry where words like “production deadline” and “downtime” send fear through all those on the payroll.

Safety qualifications and paperwork are important to build your knowledge and give you further insight into creating safety management systems. However implementation of a system has nothing to do with the certifications behind your name. My passion will always be emergency medicine but instead of saving people after the accidents, I now prevent them from getting hurt.

What I did when I first started in this industry I still do daily. The paperwork has made no difference to my daily run-abouts on board the rig, it has made no difference to my outlook on the tasks and risk assessments. Safety officers / advisors / consultants / managers begin in the industry and are successful due to hard work and dedication. The paperwork is just a bonus – it doesn’t make you good at your job. Passion makes your project a success not a safety certificate.