On the use of the vision zero principle and the ALARP principle for production loss in the oil and gas industry

Abstract

In the oil and gas industry, there is a strong focus on reducing production loss, and in the last decade the industry has adopted Vision Zero as a governing principle, to meet this goal. A previous paper has concluded that, although the vision is acceptable, in several ways, as a rational goal in this context, it does not sufficiently recognize the relevance of other concerns in risk management decision-making. Another principle in risk management that has a strong focus on reducing risk is the “As Low As Reasonably Practicable” (ALARP) principle. When applying this principle, it is possible to consider different concerns, such as costs and HSE issues, thus providing an advantageous way to complement Vision Zero in practical implementation. We discuss and find that an extended principle, consisting of both the Vision Zero principle and the ALARP principle, meets the criteria for constituting a rational goal. Conclusively, we recommend complementing Vision Zero with the ALARP principle for managing the risk of production loss.