News and Analysis

The Energy sector is expanding rapidly, what with the increase in global demand for recovering hydrocarbons from deep-water wells.  Along with the expansion of this sector, the challenges to developing and maintaining a safe and secure environment are also gaining prominence. Add to it the need to lower costs and increase profitability in oilfields, which will require the Energy sector to ramp up their employee health and safety practices. As the industry heads into a severe talent crunch, oil and gas firms are increasingly focusing on including worker safety awareness, safety meetings, job safety analysis, and task-specific training in their HR package. Firms now are making a conscious shift from ‘safety first’ to ‘safe production is our only standard’.

A key component of a firm’s safety program is the Job Safety Analysis (JSA), also known as a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). JSA is a technique that helps firms outline the various processes involved in a job, the risks associated with each process and the means to minimize the risks. This technique can make a big difference in reducing accidents, injuries, illnesses, and the associated costs. It focuses on involving every member of the team in the development of safety measures and thus increases awareness within an organization.  

The spiraling demand for hydrocarbons has led to the adoption of new technologies that facilitate exploration of resources, hitherto considered inaccessible.  But with new technologies come newer hazards and requirements for innovative safety measures.  A majority of safety concerns can be countered by including extensive communication of hazards and safety measures within an organization, greater accountability from each worker, and building safety into each and every process within an organization.  Another interesting model uses a simulation consisting of a virtual oil platform for users to learn about health and safety by experimenting in a completely safe and risk-free environment.  Participants can engage in individual or group activities where they would strategize in realistic hazardous scenarios such as blowouts and fires.  

Leading oil and gas firms such as Noble are already benefiting by deploying advanced technology tools to sensitize its workforce in battling hazards. It invested significantly in training its workforce and encouraging them to adopt newer technology. However, this investment was well-rewarded as its total recordable injury rate fell by 60 percent.

For long, the industry has battled a perception issue with people looking at it as a health hazard.  The unfriendly perception of the energy sector may still take some correcting but it’s clearly come a long way from the decade of the 80s. Today, industry associations, government bodies, and employers are collectively spearheading a revolution of sorts. Add to it the fact that this sector needs a huge influx of talent to handle rising demand of oil and gas supplies. With almost 40 percent of the existing workforce expected to retire in the next five years, it’s time for industry professionals to act- and to ensure perceived safety concerns are not a barrier to recruitment and retention. We, as an industry, should do more to publicize our improving record for safety.

- The Global Energy Talent Editorial Team