It's a safety initiative that is quickly gathering steam.
Safety Stand Down Week is designed to send a message to frontline oil industry employees that their safety is the No. 1 issue for upper management.
Held each January just as the winter drilling season is about to hit full stride, the 2005 campaign will see a minimum of 165 companies taking part, based on firm commitments as of the end of 2004. The event was launched in 2002 with 66 participating businesses.
Last year, senior executives at 131 companies such as BP Canada Energy Co., EnCana Corp., Haliburton Canada, Husky Oil, Nexen Canada Ltd. and Talisman Energy Inc. rolled up their sleeves, donned their hard hats and went to their field operations to discuss workplace health and safety issues with staff. These companies are set to do so again in 2005.
"I'm kind of surprised by the numbers, it's a record number of registrants before the first of January," says Murray Sunstrum, executive director of the Canadian Petroleum Safety Council. "That's the biggest surprise I've seen - the growth this year. We're also seeing a lot more emphasis on management bringing along their customers or contractors and it's creating a bit of a snowball effect, which is very, very positive."
The council, which has taken on the responsibility for maintaining the safety dialogue between executives and their employees, says the timing is geared to the hectic winter season.
"With the January to April timeframe being so busy, it's helpful to take a quick breather to realign because it may be the last opportunity to get all your workers together in one spot before the winter season really kicks off," says Sunstrum.
"Having direct communication between the senior executives and the frontline workers reinforces the safety message, and because it's driven by senior management, it tends to have quite an impact."
For Eric Thompson of Nisku-based Horizon Drilling Inc. and its sister operation, The Crossing Co., a horizontal directional drilling firm, taking part in Safety Stand Down Week is an important step.
"We thought it was an excellent idea," says Thompson, health safety environmental manager for the two firms. "A lot of time corporate structures will give guidelines and expectations with regards to safety, but the frontline workers may see this only as words on paper. What Safety Stand Down Week does is it brings the senior executive officer to the (company's) remote locations and the company will shut the rig down."
From there, they'll talk about health, safety and operational concerns. "This shows that it's not about production, it's not about records, it's about getting the job done without incident so we can all go home safely. The purpose is to show it's not just on paper - you take the time to go see the frontline worker and talk to them face to face," says Thompson.
Adds Ron Gnyra, president and CEO of Calgary-based Drillers Technology Corp.: "As president of the company, I want to make sure that the message comes directly from myself because we are concerned with employees' wellbeing. Safety is not just something requested from your immediate supervisors. We are serious about safety."
Gnyra says: "The purpose of Safety Stand Down Week is to go out there and meet the fellows and show them we are concerned about safety, and to see to it that work is done in a safe manner.
"We will not put up with any unsafe acts and we want to ensure that any incidents are reported, because that way people can learn from them," adds Gnyra, whose operations include five rigs in Canada and eight in Mexico.
Thompson also points out that the safety week allows crews to get together with top officials they might not otherwise get the chance to meet.
"We've got people who live in Manitoba and work in northern B.C., and we've got people who live in Calgary and work in Fort McMurray and various other remote locations," he says. "These people never come to the office and may or may not have the opportunity to meet the company's senior executives. By going to the workplace, we can actually see the individual in their own work environment."
Both Gnyra and Thompson say Safety Stand Down Week is just one part of their overall focus on safety, which takes place on a continuing basis throughout the year.
"It is a starting point. For us, it's been a positive experience and it's helped us to improve our safety culture and the safety culture is what is paramount in the company," says Thompson.
Gnyra likes the January focus because it comes at a time when the industry is extremely busy and can be faced with new, inexperienced staff.
Sunstrum agrees. "Whether it's called Safety Stand Down or held at any other time of the year, the key is really that your frontline workers and your senior executives have the opportunity to get together and speak frankly on safety issues."
However, Sunstrum points out some workers do offer negative feedback.
"Last year, we started a perception survey with our frontline workers," he says. "That can be painful or dangerous, as you may not sometimes like what you get there. There were some very good pointed answers and they were returned to the companies that drew those responses."
Along with the companies taking part, the event attracts participation from associations such as the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors, the Petroleum Industry Training Service and the Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta (WCB).
"For the regulator side, the WCB was there right from the start helping us with our promotional ideas and they loved the idea," says Sunstrum. "The others recognize the correlation between managerial involvement and the commitment to safety and safe companies, and so anything they can do to support Safety Stand Down Week they see as a productive step forward."
(Laura Severs can be reached at laura@businessedge.ca)
