Structure and Functioning of the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 Certified HSE Management System of the Offshore Installation South Arne

Abstract

Abstract South Arne is an oil and gas producing installation in the Danish sector of the North Sea. Its HSE management system was certified to ISO 14001 (environment) in 2002 and OHSAS 18001 (health and safety) certified in 2005. It was the first certified offshore production facility in Denmark. The purpose of adjusting the management system in line with the requirements of the standards was to ensure a structured system which can be used for facilitating continual improvement in HSE performance. Various studies have discussed whether certification of HSE management systems leads to improved HSE performance. Two keys to success include development of a good safety culture and clear and convincing management commitment. An important part of a good safety culture is a good reporting culture with respect to HSE incidents. Clear management commitment is indicated by prompt response to actions identified to prevent recurrence of incidents as well as ensuring that key contractors are included in the facility HSE management system. South Arne originally used incident severity rating scores as a measure of HSE performance, based on a relatively complicated rating matrix. It was not easily understood and provided poor consistency of ratings. Therefore, a revised matrix was developed based on feedback from users and it appears to be more easily understood and results in more consistent ratings. HSE target setting and improvement plans are fundamental in both the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. The difficulties in independently measuring health and safety performance are discussed. In addition, both the inherent changes caused by maturing of the fields and the problems in weighting different types of environmental impacts makes it difficult to objectively define improvement in environmental performance. The experience is that certification of HSE management systems helps operators to manage their HSE matters in a structured way. The certification process in itself sets focus on HSE in the organisation. Offshore and onshore management, employees and contractors work together towards a common goal. Therefore, both the preparations for certification and the resulting improved HSE management system have a positive effect internally and as a signal of HSE commitment towards external stakeholders.