Setting up for success for mobilisation to major hazard facilities—a contractor’s perspective
Melinda Simpson A and Neil Tooley AUGL.
The APPEA Journal 55(2) 422-422 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ14057
Published: 2015
Abstract
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.
Melinda Simpson holds a master’s of OHS and a Bachelor of Science, and has held HSE management positions with several oil and gas operating companies in Perth. Melinda has been a Senior Lecturer in OHS at Edith Cowan University, and is now HSE Manager at UGL, responsible for a large oil and gas project. Melinda has more than 15 years’ experience in oil and gas, and has been involved in projects from FEED to commissioning and then into operations including mobilisation to large major hazard facilities offshore and onshore. Melinda is a member of Women in Oil and Gas. |
Neil Tooley is a mechanical engineer with 25 years’ experience in the resources sector, working both as an operator and as a contractor. Neil has held executive positions in service delivery organisations that deliver essential maintenance, turnaround and project services to the oil and gas business. Neil now holds the role of General Manager, Business Development and Pre-Contracts’ with UGL. |
References
Hopkins, A., 2001—Lessons from Longford, the Esso Gas Plant Explosion. Sydney: CCH Australia Limited.International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, 2010—HSE Management, Guidelines for Working Together in a Contract Environment. Accessed February 2015. <http://www.ogp.org.uk/pubs/423.pdf>.
National Offshore Petroleum Safety Environment Management Authority (NOPSEMA), 2013—Revision 8–Guidance Note, Safety Case Content and Level of Detail. Accessed February 2015. <http://www.nopsema.gov.au/assets/Guidance-notes/N-04300-GN0106-Safety-Case-Content-and-Level-of-Detail-Rev-7-June.pdf>.
