Workplace Safety Management @ GPIC – A Case Study Approach

Abstract

Abstract This paper highlights the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC's) approach in proactively managing workplace health and safety. The paper describes the methodologies by which a company was transformed from a standard performer in the field of health and safety to one which safety is a business culture that is not only considered as a modal of excellence but also a true success story in the field of establishing and instilling workplace safety prominence. GPIC's workplace safety management system is well appreciated by professional international safety and occupational health organizations including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) of Great Britain and the National Safety Council (NSC) of the United States as well as regional recognition. GPIC's workplace safety management system received eight RoSPA Gold and Gold Medal Awards starting from 1991. In 2001, RoSPA awarded GPIC the International Sector Award in recognition for its outstanding establishment and continual improvement of its workplace safety management system. In 2003, RoSPA awarded GPIC the ultimate prize of the Chemical Sector Award to endorse it as a leading international company that maintains and implements a safety management system that is of merit status. GPIC's workplace health and safety management system is not only recognized by RoSPA, but NSC of the United States has awarded it the council's Award of Merit for continually achieving lost-time accident free work hours that exceeds millions of person-hours. The GPIC's workplace safety system is also regionally recognized and appreciated through the achievement of the Kingdom of Bahrain His Highness the Prime Minister's Major Industries Excellence Award in 2002. Also in 2002, GPIC received H.H. Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Certificate of Excellence Award for Arab Management for the outstanding Arab Establishment category. The paper sheds light on the numerous management systems, approaches and resources that enables GPIC to accomplish renowned success in the area of workplace safety. The paper also, demonstrate that workplace safety must be incorporated as a strategic business endeavor for it to establish and maintains the inertia and thrust necessary for its continual success. Furthermore, the paper explains that workplace safety is part and parcel of a total business culture that should be integrated and augmented into a one team spirit.