Health, Safety And Environment Management Research Articles

Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the health, safety and environment (HSE)culture questionnaire based on the OGP guide in process industries

Background and Objective: HSE culture is a part of the general culture of the organization, it is considered as a kind of management tool in reducing incidents and controlling unsafe behaviors in the organization. The purpose of this study was to present a valid and reliable tool in the field of HSE culture based on the OGP guide in process industries. Materials and Methods: The current research is an instrument-making study that was conducted in order to determine the validity and reliability of the HSE culture questionnaire among the employees of Shahid Hashminejad Gas Refinery. After studying various texts, and using World Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) guide to design related questions, quantitative and qualitative content validity by 10 experts, face validity (comprehensibility), reproducibility and internal consistency by 30 employees and construct validity was done by 410 employees. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis of the final version of the questionnaire including 34 questions in 6 dimensions of the observable program of HSE management, competence and awareness of the situation, communication, training of work procedures and human factors, incident management and HSE evaluation and audit confirmed. The average impact score, validity ratio, and validity index were 3.81, 0.82, and 0.92, respectively. (α = 0.94 and ICC = 0.975), which was within the acceptable range. Conclusion: Iranian HSE specialists can use this valid and reliable tool to evaluate the HSE culture of employees, especially in process industries, and use the findings as guidelines for effective health, safety and environmental interventions.

Beyond the TRIFR – maintaining safe operations with a TRIFR of zero

Upstream Production Solutions Eastern business has completed 12 months maintaining a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of zero. This does not result from running an inherently safe operation. Maintaining performance has required significant effort in the right areas: Training and competence, and verifying competencies are adequately developed; Setting clear expectations for behaviours, and providing visible management support; Providing the right HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) support in the right areas (with a focus on effort where the risk is); Strong reporting culture, with information captured and communicated positively throughout our organisation, avoiding a culture of blame; Practical risk assessment, with robust risk mitigations put in place and tested; Deployment of the right tools (including Step Back 5 × 5 and Job Hazard Analysis) to support conscious review at the work site, with review and feedback provided to teams; Developing leading indicators and visible reporting; and Management review and continuous improvement building our learning of what works. We have continued to face challenges over the past 12 months of operation and we will present examples of issues identified and corrective actions undertaken, including: Training delivered, but competence not achieved prior to starting work on site; Change in work practises not identified and assessed through management of change process – business is exposed to new risks without robust mitigation in place; and Some of our corporate HSE management practises were not delivering real benefits and had to be changed to support delivery of safe operations. Upstream PS will share practical learnings and examples from the last 12 months of this journey.

Survey of the health, safety and environment climate and its effects on occupational accidents.

Preserving and protecting the human resources is considered as the most important capital in any economic section by industrial development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health, safety and environment (HSE) climate and its effects on occupational accidents in a petrochemical industry. This cross-sectional study was performed on 354 male workers in a petrochemical industry (10 different categories of site operators). Data was collected through a questionnaire, which its validity and reliability were standardized with Cronbach's alpha at 0.85. In this questionnaire the safety condition, workplace environment, disease symptoms were investigated in five, four and three dimensions, respectively. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 23 and LISREL version 8.8. According to the model values, there were significant correlation between safety condition and workplace environment r = 0.66, also between work safety condition and disease symptoms. The three hidden variables of work safety condition, work mental environment and physical workplace had significant effects on disease symptoms. Therefore, safety condition was the most effective variable on disease symptoms. Two significant predictors were work safety condition and physical workplace for work mental environment with coefficients γ= 2.29, β= -0.1, respectively. HSE condition indicators, working environment and disease symptoms reflect workers' views on HSE issues in the workplace. It can be beneficial in rooting the factors affecting occupational accidents and performance evaluation in the organization HSE management system.

Evaluation of HSE Culture and Identification of Its Promotion Strategies in Northern Khorasan Province Gas Company

Background and Objective: Nowadays, in order to improve the level of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) culture of employees, organizations have reached this important conclusion that the weaknesses and strengths of the system should be identified .This is done by periodically evaluating the level of HSE culture, in order to determine and apply the targeted promotion. Therefore, the aim of this research is to evaluate the level of HSE culture among the employees of Gas Company of Northern Khorasan Province.
 Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study conducted in 2009-2010. The questionnaires were self-administered and semi-supervised by the participants. The statistical population included 400 official, contractual and non-official employees. Simple random sampling method and Cochran formula were used to select the statistical population, which included 198 employees in all organizational levels of the company. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23, and descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and correlation tests. HSE culture promotion strategies were identified and presented after reviewing and analyzing the scores.
 Results: Compared with the determined limit using the relevant formula (number 177), in this study, the general level of HSE culture of North Khorasan Gas Company was evaluated as positive with a score of 198.42. The minimum and maximum HSE culture scores of the participants were 131 and 281, respectively. Education indicator had the most positive effect, and disregard and violation indicator in rules of HSE had the most negative effect on HSE culture score.
 Conclusion: The positive level of HSE culture in a high percentage of employees, compared to the defined boundary, shows successful implementation of HSE management system indicators, such as training, employees' participation, rules and instructions, and commitment of managers are priority in the company under study.

Development and Validation of a Checklist for Urban Health Service Centers in Terms of Health, Safety and Environmental Management

BackgroundComprehensive urban health service centers have an important role in disease prevention. However, there is no sufficient information about how these centers protect their assets and manage health, safety and environment (HSE) in their workplaces. On the other hand, there is no suitable tool to assess the HSE status in these centers. This study aimed to design and evaluate the face and content validity of the HSE checklist of urban health service centers.MethodsAll available related literature were reviewed to extract the initial items. A panel of experts was used to assess the content and face validity of the checklist through quantitative and qualitative methods.ResultsThe final checklist consists of 11 components and 86 items. The CVR and the impact score of the remaining items ranged from 0.8 to 1 and 1.9 to 5, respectively. The CVI of the instrument was 0.86.ConclusionThe designed checklist in this study is a suitable valid tool (face and content validity) based on the opinions of the expert panel and the target group. Therefore, it can be used to examine the HSE management situations in urban health service centers.

Analysis research of industry accident law based on barrier theory and text semantic recognition technology

One of the important reasons for the repeated occurrence of the same type of accidents in the group company over the years is the insufficient utilization of accident resources. This paper introduces barrier theory and establishes an accident analysis method system based on barrier theory. Barrier theory changes the traditional accident analysis mode, and adjusts the object of accident analysis from consequence to barrier, which provides a new perspective for the analysis of accident law. This paper develops a HSE text semantic recognition model which can automatically extract the production operation link, production stage and type of failed barriers of the accidents from the accident investigation report, finds out the cause factors leading to the failures of these barriers and establishes a direct relationship with the HSE(Health, Safety and Environment) management system, in a way to find out some common laws of the accidents and reveal the defects and shortcomings in business management.

Data driven update to industry Life-Saving Rules

The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) is a global forum in which member companies identify and share best practices to achieve improvements in many areas including upstream safety. The IOGP first published Life-Saving Rules in 2010, having based the choice of topics covered and actions recommended on an analysis of 1484 fatal incident reports and 1173 high potential event reports collected through IOGP’s annual Safety Performance Indicators. In 2017, IOGP launched an initiative called Project Safira with the aim of eliminating fatalities; one of the work streams within this project was to refresh, simplify and reduce the number of industry Life-Saving Rules to encourage industry standardisation. An industry team of subject matter experts, health, safety and environment (HSE) and operations professionals conducted a comprehensive analysis of the latest 10 years of fatality data and streamlined the original 18 rules down to nine, while retaining the level of applicability in fatality prevention and incorporating the latest thinking on human performance and lessons learned from member companies’ experiences in implementation of similar programs. The Life-Saving Rules are not intended to replace company HSE management systems but rather to complement existing organisational processes and procedures. The rules provide simple actions, in the form of ‘I statements’ which can provide a final barrier that individuals have control over, using their own actions to prevent fatalities. From 2008 to 2017, 376 workers lost their lives in incidents that may have been prevented by following one of the new nine IOGP Life-Saving Rules.

Why does the offshore wind industry need standardized HSE management systems? An evidence from Denmark

The offshore wind sector is one of the key sources for producing renewable energy. Though there is a rapid growth in the offshore wind sector, there is still a dearth of synchronization in HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) standards. This paper attempts to ascertain what are the major challenges of the company specific HSE standards, why does the offshore wind industry need a standardized HSE management system and who can play the key role in this process? To achieve these objectives, this research applies the interview and survey techniques. The research identified several key challenges such as gaps in coordination and communication among the stakeholders, gaps in incident reporting systems and the absence of a common HSE standard to overcome these challenges. Seven stakeholders were identified who can influence the development process of a harmonized HSE management system. However, the operators and turbine manufacturers are the key stakeholders to play role in this development process. The results of this study provide the top management to understand the problems associated with the current un-harmonized company specific HSE management systems and how to address these problems by creating a common HSE management standard to achieve the goal of 'zero accidents'.

HSE training matrices templates for grassroots posts in petroleum and petrochemical enterprises

This paper aims to standardize health, safety and environment (HSE) training matrices for effectively identifying training requirements and enhancing job competency of grassroots posts in petroleum and petrochemical enterprises. After an investigation into HSE training performance in petroleum and petrochemical enterprises, HSE training matrices templates for 239 grassroots posts involving 22 primary petroleum and petrochemical disciplines were developed based on the technical requirements of HSE training matrices templates and the studies of template development processes and technical methods at grassroots level. Applications of these templates in 12 companies demonstrate their effectiveness in improving HSE training and management for grassroots posts, strengthening risk control and promoting the application of HSE system and tools in grassroots units.

A Survey of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Management and Safety Climate in Construction Sites

The principles of health, safety and environment (HSE) in different development activities, including construction, are constantly gaining in significance. This study aims to evaluate the condition of HSE management and safety climate in construction sites. In this descriptive-analytic study, 111 male employees are randomly selected. To determine HSE condition and management and safety climate condition, the NOSACQ questionnaire was used. The collected data are analyzed using SPSS. Based on data analysis a significant relationship between the mean scores of safety climate, job groups and HSE management system with job groups, education and experience (P<0.05) was found. The study results show that HSE management and safety climate in sites are relatively acceptable, that the perception of safety had no special association with age, work experience, education and that the creation of a safety climate depends on the people high in the hierarchy.

Health, safety and environmental unit performance assessment model under uncertainty (case study: steel industry).

Performance assessment is a critical objective of management systems. As a result of the non-deterministic and qualitative nature of performance indicators, assessments are likely to be influenced by evaluators' personal judgments. Furthermore, in developing countries, performance assessments by the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) department are based solely on the number of accidents. A questionnaire is used to conduct the study in one of the largest steel production companies in Iran. With respect to health, safety, and environment, the results revealed that control of disease, fire hazards, and air pollution are of paramount importance, with coefficients of 0.057, 0.062, and 0.054, respectively. Furthermore, health and environment indicators were found to be the most common causes of poor performance. Finally, it was shown that HSE management systems can affect the majority of performance safety indicators in the short run, whereas health and environment indicators require longer periods of time. The objective of this study is to present an HSE-MS unit performance assessment model in steel industries. Moreover, we seek to answer the following question: what are the factors that affect HSE unit system in the steel industry? Also, for each factor, the extent of impact on the performance of the HSE management system in the organization is determined.

A new framework for HSE performance measurement and monitoring

Measurement of performance is rooted in quality measurement subject which has been one of the challenging branches of the research in the recent years. Measurement of the performance of an organization in the field of health, safety and environment (HSE) is a prerequisite for continual improvement policy which is the spirit of the new HSE management systems. In this work, after a review of literature, the HSE key performance indicators (KPIs) and frameworks for measurement of HSE performance were reviewed, and a comprehensive classification of KPIs based on three factors (time, scope, and type) was presented. In this research a new framework with an innovative philosophical and mathematical formulation was presented for performance measurement. In the proposed framework, by combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques, a logical selection-aggregation process is performed to determine the performance status from KPIs. The proposed methodology is based on ‘award and punishment’ policy, and it aggregates the negative and positive performance elements to compute the HSE performance index. In this methodology a lead index and a lag index are calculated and combined to compute the overall HSE index. This methodology was used in a case study for performance measurement in three drilling companies. The results indicated that the model is applicable in the industry for HSE performance measurement and monitoring. The presented framework is risk-related and has 12 special characteristics which makes it possible to use it as a basis for development of an international ISO standard for performance measurement.

Impact of integrated HSE management system on power generation in Iran by a unique mathematical programming approach

Purpose Concern for health, safety and environment (HSE) is increasing in many developing countries, especially in energy industries. Improving power plants efficiencies in terms of HSE issues requires considering these issues in performance assessment of power generation units. This study aims to discuss the use of data envelopment analysis methodology for the performance assessment of electrical power plants in Iran by considering HSE and conventional indicators. Design/methodology/approach Installed capacity, fuel consumption, labor cost, internal power, forced outage hours, operating hours and total power generation along with HSE indices are taken into consideration for determining the efficiency of 20 electric power plants or decision-making units (DMUs). Moreover, DMUs are ranked based on their relative efficiency scores. Findings Results show that HSE factors are significant in performance assessment of the power plants studied in this research, and among HSE factors, health has the most powerful impact on the efficiency of the power plants. Originality/value The approach of this study could be used for continuous improvement of combined HSE and conventional factors. It would also help managers to have better comprehension of key shaping factors in terms of HSE.

Performance assessment system of health, safety and environment based on experts' weights and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation

Performance evaluation of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) is the measurement of a company's achievement in HSE management. In order to receive a comprehensive and objective evaluation result, it is necessary to consider all evaluation factors and experts at different levels when HSE performance assessment is conducted. To improve conventional HSE performance evaluation, where weighted average method was used, a Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) method is used in this study by taking experts' weights into account. Further, an HSE operating performance assessment system is designed to simplify manual and complex assessment process and generate charts and analysis reports automatically. Finally, a case of petrochemical enterprise is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the method and system.

Setting up for success for mobilisation to major hazard facilities—a contractor's perspective

The challenges for a contractor to mobilise to a major hazard facility come from differences in expectations between stakeholders, gaps and inconsistencies between health, safety and environment (HSE) management systems, and the logistical challenges of initial training and competency verification. Differences in expectations can arise between the corporate office and site or also between various functional silos. HSE management system challenges manifest in the detailed procedures when the safety case is in operation. Training and competency assessment is an ongoing requirement, but the initial demand at first mobilisation creates a one-off logistical burden. The steps to lessen the impact of these challenges and to enable a successful outcome include: alignment workshops with customers and other stakeholders to create a shared safety culture and expectations of management systems; joint HSE management system gap analysis and risk workshops; early interface meetings with stakeholders; and, requirements having a comprehensive definition and pre-planning to deliver best practice. A successful mobilisation is characterised by the alignment of systems, improvements made during the alignment process by delivering best practice, meeting all HSE obligations for employees (including seconded personnel and sub-contractors), bridging the gap with sub-contractor management when implementing the safety case, and having all personnel trained before mobilisation. This extended abstract draws on lessons from recent real-world experience and offers a framework to overcome challenges a contractor can encounter, and sets up successful mobilisation for a major hazard facility.

Optimization of HSE in maintenance activities by integration of continuous improvement cycle and fuzzy multivariate approach: A gas refinery

Gas refineries have been continuously focusing on Health, Safety and Environment programs to improve maintenance activities. Several researches have studied on this area with different analysis methods. This study presents an integrated approach for optimization of factors contributing to the implementation of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) in maintenance activities. HSE managers in each sector answered standard questionnaire whit respect to HES. The methodology is based on fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA) and Deming's continuous improvement cycle. Also, this method is used to rank the relevant performance efficiencies in certain and uncertain conditions of each HSE sectors whit considering HSE in maintenance activities. It corresponds and integrates its registered HSE-MS with OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO 14001:2004 to evaluate multiple inputs and outputs of over 36 subsidiary HSE divisions with parallel mission and objectives simultaneously. Also, it determines efficient target indices and could assure continuous improvement in the organization. This is the first study that introduces an integrated approach to improve HSE management programs in a gas refinery by a robust and continuous improvement approach.

Development of Environmental Regulation in Energy Industry of China a Comparative Perspective

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) regulation related to the natural gas industry in China is reviewed with a focus on environmental regulation. The review provides insight into the regulation, standards and management practice adopted, and it identifies trends and needs for improvement in China. The research finds that China is actively improving its HSE regulation system by revising laws and standards, and entitling regulatory organizations with new functions; at the same time, more companies in China are aware of the importance of HSE management and accreditation. At the current stage, the legal systems in China are effective in terms of improving awareness of and investment in HSE management. However, there is a long way to go before effective HSE management system implementation and mature HSE culture in place. From the experience of HSE legislation and management in Australia, we find that HSE culture and implementation are essential to the healthy development of the gas industry. We conclude that HSE regulation and management would benefit greatly from guidance on how to form HSE management system and cultivate sustainability culture, as well as from the further development of feasible performance measures.

Managing Supplier Requirements with HSE Accounting The case of the Mechanical Engineering Company Bisma Jaya, Indonesia

As recent disasters in the offshore petroleum and other industries illustrate, managing HSE is particularly relevant for companies operating in high risk industrial sectors. HSE management systems support companies in minimising adverse health effects, injuries and environmental damages as well as in complying with legislation, standards and stakeholder expectations. Key elements are risk assessment and control through implementation of preventive and protective measures, the preparation of emergency situations and investigation of accidents. HSE management<br />systems have also become a common element of supply chain audits and management. To increase transparency in their supply chains and to reduce risks, large companies aim at aligning compliance of suppliers <br />with their health, safety and environment (HSE) goals and policy. This paper shows with the case of Bisma Jaya, an Indonesian mechanical engineering company, how accounting for HSE can support small and medium sized suppliers to meet the requirements of large international customers. This paper proposes a framework for HSE management accounting and examines the use of management accounting to improve<br />the HSE performance of an Indonesian company as a response to customer audit requirements. The company is a supplier of a large oil company and seeks for effective and efficient ways of HSE improvement. The paper unfolds benefits and limitations of narrow efficiency-oriented responses to rating systems and audits and highlights that efficiency considerations in HSE management are only partially useful and require complementing effectiveness considerations on HSE performance.<br /><br /><br id="tinymce" class="mceContentBody " />