personal responsibility for safety

7/28/2019 Personal Responsibility for Safety

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Personal Responsibility for Safety (PRfS)

Guidance Document

The implementation of Personal Responsibility for Safety (PRfS) must be tackled in astructured way. If we want personnel to consistently exhibit the "right" behaviours we

must provide a support structure which ensures the right level of support and

encouragement. A change in behaviour requires consistent reinforcement and practice

and it is all too easy to inadvertently stop this evolution through inconsistent

Management action, loss of focus or the sending of mixed messages.

Before embarking on any major systems or organisational change consideration must be

given to how this will be delivered and received. Change initiatives often fail because

enough consideration has not been given to the impact they will have on the

organisation and how employees will react to it. To assist with the introduction of the

System Requirements incorporated in this Guidance we have also included an excellentchange management process which we recommend you consider applying as you

implement the changes.

This guidance is made up of the following 9 elements:-

1. Clear Expectations

2. Effective Communication

3. Personal Leadership

4. Personal Risk Awareness

5. Planning 6. The Right and Duty to Intervene

7. Accountability

8. Self Evaluation

9. Develop, Encourage and Sustain Safe Behaviours

References

You may find reading the How To Use This Web Site useful before accessing this web

site in more detail.

Overview

Serious accidents and dangerous occurrences continue to happen on our offshore

installations and onshore sites during routine operations. Analysis indicates that not

following procedures and lack of risk awareness are contributory factors in many cases.

Initiatives taken to date delivered improvements in health and safety performance but

have not achieved the desired incident reduction. A behavioural approach which

actively engages everyone through personal responsibility is seen as the principal way

forward.
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Personal Responsibility for Safety (PRfS) will assist us to achieve an advanced safety

culture in which everyone, regardless of position, accepts responsibility and plays an

active role in improving the safety of his or her immediate environment. In this culture,

all personnel think about the tasks they are about to undertake, assess and mitigate any

risks, actively look after themselves, their colleagues and others, always intervene when

unsafe behaviours or conditions are observed and share their knowledge and experiencefreely.

Many companies have excellent safety practices and a number of the necessary building

blocks for PRfS, however few have ALL of the processes AND the Management

alignment and focus that is needed to fully develop and sustain Personal Responsibility

for Safety.

In our industry, companies do not work in isolation and the resulting interdependency of

many companies coming together to work on a single project creates additional

challenges. Each company will have its own Safety Management System, incorporating

policies and procedures and most companies will additionally be engaged in a numberof safety improvement initiatives. When working together on major projects, interfaces

between each of the parties Safety Management Systems will normally be established to

avoid conflict. On short term projects some of the parties may be expected to work

under another company's system. We must recognise that a significant proportion of the

offshore workforce will be engaged in short term assignments on many different

installations and the diverse systems and cultures encountered can create confusion and

may stifle proactive safety behaviour.

A solution to this dilemma is to harmonise the basic support systems through industry

wide adoption of the key processes incorporated in this PRfS Guidance. This PRfS

Guidance document is a collaborative effort which has pulled together good practice

identified within our industry to provide all of the components required to

comprehensively support PRfS.

In addition to harmonised support, this document also details the desired personal

actions and behaviours that are required throughout our industry and which this

consistent framework will facilitate and sustain. It is recognised that processes and

documentation alone will not achieve the health and safety improvement we desire. Key

to the success of this initiative is engagement and this Guidance will be complemented

by an ongoing promotional campaign to maximise participation.

You may find reading the How To Use This Site useful before accessing the Personal

Responsibility for Safety Guidance Document ourResourcesin more detail.

1. Clear Expectations

Personal Requirements

Make safety as important as any other personal priority (make it a big deal)
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Ensure you know what is expected of you and your colleagues

Follow the rules and procedures and encourage colleagues to do the same (doing

the job right is more efficient than rushing)

Ensure that you live up to the safety standards you expect of others

Communicate what you expect of others and check their understanding of your

message Help create a culture of safety within your organisation

Play your part to create a safe and healthy working environment

Support Systems

The organisation should:-

1. 1.1Provide a policy which clearly requires all personnel to intervene in the

interest of safety and for this to be positively supported by all levels of the

organisation. (Reference 1)2. 1.2 Provide an induction process which provides clear expectations for all

employees and contractors and includes:-

1. a) Familiarisation with the company HS&E policy, rules and procedures.

(Reference 2)

2. b) The Industry Common Induction Process. (Reference 3)

3. c) Clear job related responsibilities and accountabilities with respect to

safety. (Reference 4)

4. d) Familiarisation with the personal requirements listed within the nine

elements of this Guidance Document.

3. 1.3 Provide clear simple rules and procedures which are suitable and sufficient

for the task and cover the following points:-1. a) Clear communication of all safety principles and those rules that are

common to all employees. (Reference 5)

2. b) Development of task specific safety guidelines which support safe job

execution. (Reference 6)

4. 1.4 Communicate the positive and negative consequences associated with the

safety rules and guidelines (direct and indirect consequences for the individual,

for his/her work colleagues, for his/her family, for the organisation and the

industry). (Reference 7)

5. 1.5 All rules and procedures are periodically reviewed and revised to be current

and reflect any learning.

6. 1.6 Encourage documented Personal Safety Commitments for all employees andcontractors and establish a review process to ensure that these are met through:-

1. a) Providing a standard framework to promote alignment and which

includes review of progress and accomplishments required by the

Personal Safety Commitment. (Reference 8)

2. b) Management at all levels sharing their Personal Safety Commitments

with their teams and each employee being encouraged to share their

Personal Safety Commitments with their colleagues.

7. 1.7 Include an improvement plan with measurable targets which encourages

Personal Responsibility for Safety and includes:-

1. a) Performance of a gap analysis against the PRfS Guidance to establishareas for improvement. (Reference 9)
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2. b) Incorporation within the Company HS&E improvement plans of the

identified areas for improvement from the PRfS gap analysis.

2. Effective Communication


Where possible use face to face communication

Remember to listen and ask open questions

Check understanding and where appropriate agree actions

Be sincere and be sure your actions and body language consistently support

what you are saying (Remember the messages you communicate will be much

stronger if you are seen to have a strong personal belief in safety)

Choose the correct time, place and media to get the message across

Support Systems

The organisation should endeavour to ensure that communication is two-way and

messages are fully understood by all personnel by adopting the following principles:-

1. 2.1 The identification and communication of solutions rather than problems

should be encouraged. (Reference 10)

2. 2.2 Communications should be in clear and concise language, avoiding jargon

and abbreviations.

3. 2.3 Face to face communication should be encouraged.4. 2.4 The reasons for change should be explained and employee and contractor

input collected and considered.

5. 2.5 The provision of timely and effective feedback on positive and negative

issues raised.

6. 2.6 A questioning approach should be encouraged with open feedback and no

fear of retribution.

7. 2.7 A clearly visible schedule for regular site visits by Line and Senior

Management to communicate with employees. (Reference 11)

8. 2.8 Reflection time at the end of meetings to confirm "What We Have Learned".

3. Personal Leadership


Lead by example, be consistent and follow procedures

Recognise safe behaviour, give praise and say thank you where deserved

Have courage to do the right thing and do not tolerate unsafe behaviour

Demonstrate personal commitment to safety at work and at home

Believe that you can make a difference and follow up commitments

Be enthusiastic, open and take time to interact on safety matters Give and welcome feedback
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Even when facing conflicting priorities maintain your safety standards

Openly share your Personal Safety Commitments

Support Systems

The organisation should provide:-

1. 3.1 Senior Management commitment to incorporate PRfS throughout its

systems.

2. 3.2 Appropriate funding and resources to effectively support PRfS.

3. 3.3 Training that supports the development of appropriate safety leadership and

behavioural skills for all personnel. (Reference 12)

4. 3.4 A process to recognise outstanding safety performance and provide

appropriate responses to unacceptable behaviours. (Reference 13)

5. 3,5 A process that encourages all employees and contractors to document their

Personal Safety Commitments and review them on a regular basis. (Reference 8)6. 3.6 A mechanism to ensure openness and integrity of reporting without fear of

repercussion. (Reference 14)

7. 3.7 Encouragement for continued safe behaviours at home through education

and/or practical support. (Reference 15)

8. 3.8 A process to incorporate key safety leadership behaviours in its appraisal

programme and provide mentoring where needed. (Reference 16)

4. Personal Risk Awareness


Get involved in discussions about risks on the job, questioning anything you do

not understand

Share your experiences with others and encourage them to do the same

Get involved in practical worksite inspections and always stay aware of your

surroundings

Even when undertaking a routine activity that you believe is safe, always

consider the consequences of the worst possible outcomes (personal, family,

company, legal etc) and act in a way that reduces the risk

Practice your observation skills away from the workplace Continually assess the potential influence of changes to the operation

Be aware that alcohol and drugs may impair risk perception

Support Systems


1. 4.1 Provide relevant risk assessment and observation skills training for all

personnel which includes:-

1. a) A risk assessment process aligned with the Step Change Task RiskAssessment Guidance. (Reference 6)
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2. b) A process to communicate hazards associated with the work

environment. (Reference 17)

3. c) Relevant training for all offshore, workshop and warehouse personnel

in the task risk assessment process. (Reference 19)

4. d) Basic observation skills training to assist personnel to identify the

hazards associated with their work environment. (Reference 20)2. 4.2 Facilitate the capture and sharing of information and best practice with

regard to personal risks through:-

1. a) A system that captures, documents and shares information on

company specific worksite hazards. (Reference 18)

2. b) Ensuring that individuals only work within their capabilities and

competencies.

3. c) A system that captures, documents and shares information on common

industry hazards. (Reference 21)

4. d) Encouraging team members to share their knowledge of new and

existing hazards and control measures. (Reference 22)

3. 4.3 Provide a process for raising risk awareness outside the workplace thatinvolves:-

1. a) Encouraging employees to share their learning of risks that exist

outside the workplace. (Reference 23)

2. b) Encouraging employees to share their learning of worksite risks that

apply outwith the workplace. (Reference 24)

3. c) Campaigns and promotional activities to highlight common hazards

outside the workplace. (Reference 25)

4. 4.4 Assign experienced personnel to inexperienced, new or transferred personnel

to share their knowledge and experience on job/site specific risks.

5. Planning


When planning ensure input from all involved, consider any limitations, ensure

you have the time and resources to do the job safely and request help where

needed

Take time to fully familiarise yourself with the safety aspects of the agreed

scope of work and question any areas that are not completely clear to you

Understand your interaction with other people involved in the plan Where changes to the plan occur stop work safely and take time to reassess the

situation

Look for improvement opportunities whilst conducting the job and provide

feedback for inclusion in future plans

Support Systems


1. 5.1 A planning process which requires the participation of all the personnelinvolved in the task.
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2. 5.2 Clear work instructions which outline individual responsibilities.

3. 5.3 Information relative to work activities that is easily accessible and will allow

comprehensive planning. (Reference 26)

4. 5.4 Adequate time for proper planning.

A simple and effective Change Management process. (Reference 27)

5. 5.5 A process to capture learning and ensure this is incorporated in the plan.

6. The Right and Duty to Intervene


Believe you can make a difference and have the courage to challenge unsafe acts

Lead by example and take action (think about the consequences of turning a

blind eye and remember you have a right and moral duty to intervene)

Welcome interventions from others and accept them in a positive manner Intervene in a way which is positive, constructive and considerate

Intervene to learn and to praise positive and safe behaviours as well as to

challenge unsafe behaviours

Support Systems


1. 6.1 A policy that requires all employees and contractors to intervene in the

interests of safety and for their actions to be supported at all levels within theorganisation. (Reference 1)

2. 6.2 A clearly communicated requirement for all individuals to accept

constructive intervention in a positive manner. (Reference 28)

3. 6.3 An observation and intervention programme which requires and facilitates

workforce feedback and provides visibility of actions taken. (Reference 29)

4. 6.4 Training in constructive intervention skills where needed. (Reference 30)

5. 6.5 Recognition for proactive intervention. (Reference 31)

7. Accountability


Follow the rules, they are there to keep you safe

Take responsibility and ownership for safety in the environments that you live

and work in

Take action and offer solutions to prevent accidents

Take time to think about the positive and negative consequences of the actions

of yourself and your colleagues

Have the confidence to stop any job that you believe cannot be completed safely

Be a positive influence on others and set a good example
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Support Systems

1. 7.1 The organisation should provide clear and concise safety rules and

guidelines. These should be effectively rolled out and the consequences of

unacceptable safety behaviour clearly identified. (Reference 32)

2. 7.2 The organisation should apply a fair and consistent response to unacceptable

safety behaviour which is focused on behavioural improvement through training,

coaching and as a final resort disciplinary action. (Reference 33)

8. Self Evaluation


Write down your personal safety commitments on an annual basis and share

them with colleagues, include measurable targets Periodically check how you are doing against your commitments

Ask for feedback from others who work with you and be prepared to give

feedback to others

Use feedback generated to guide self improvement

Support Systems


1. 8.1 Provide guidance to assist personnel with the development of their PersonalSafety Commitments which includes:-

1. a) A standard framework to assist employees to prepare their Personal

Safety Commitments. (Reference 8)

2. b) A requirement for personal commitments to support industry,

organisation and personal goals and objectives and to be specific,

measurable, achievable, realistic and time based.

3. c) Provision of a mechanism to inform all employees of shared industry

and organisational goals. (Reference 34)

4. d) Encouraging personnel to share their personal commitments with

peers and Line Manager.

5. e) Assistance from Line Management/Supervision.2. 8.2 Encourage all personnel to have personal safety commitments incorporating

clear targets to provide a reference point for personal evaluation (Reference 8)

3. 8.3 Include an appraisal process to provide feedback to the individual and which

can be linked to self improvement plans including a review of Personal Safety

Commitments (ideally part of 360 deg appraisal process). (Reference 35)

9. Develop, Encourage and Sustain Safe

Behaviours
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Start every day by thinking of how you can keep yourself and others safe and

make continuous improvement a personal goal

Make Risk Recognition a Habit and having identified risks always implement

actions to overcome them

Consistently do things the safe way at work and at home

Provide feedback and encouragement on things that work and constructive

criticism for things that don't

Explain why the rules and procedures are there

Share good practice and intervene to change bad practice

Give and act on positive and negative feedback

Continually look for opportunities to learn from others

Keep communicating the benefits of sustained safety

Support Systems


1. 9.1 Define and provide examples of safe behaviours and encourage their

consistent application through:-

1. a) Establishing compliance with safety principles and rules as a core

company value.

2. b) Actively encouraging safe behaviours such as:- Stopping unsafe acts;

reporting unsafe conditions; responding to changes in operations by

reassessing risks; always using the appropriate Personal ProtectiveEquipment; recognising and praising safety contributions; sharing

knowledge and experience of risks; practising hazard recognition.

3. c) Encouraging and supporting everyone to participate in safety

improvement and giving recognition to positive participation and

proactive safe behaviours (Consideration should also be given to team

building approaches that improve working relationships and support safe

behaviours). (Reference 12)

2. 9.2 Assess training and coaching needs with respect to safe behaviours (Training

and coaching should be provided to close any gap identified for new and

existing employees).

3. 9.3 Establish within the organisation, mechanisms which provide theopportunity for all employees and contractors to contribute to the improvement

of safety and as a minimum include:-

1. a) Processes to provide timely feedback to the originator on agreed

actions.

2. b) Consideration of the following mechanisms:-

Toolbox Talks (Reference 36)

Time out for Safety (Reference 37)

Safety Observation Programmes (Reference 20)

Advanced Safety Audit (Reference 12)

Task Risk Assessment Process

Safety Representatives, Committees & MeetingsDiagonal Slice Safety Meetings
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Behaviour Based Safety Programmes (Reference 29)

Safety Suggestion Schemes (Reference 38)

Safety Alerts

"Safety Moments"

Safety Improvement Teams

Management Site VisitsManagement Reviews

Personal Safety Commitments

3. c) Establish within the organisation, mechanisms which provide the

opportunity for all personnel to contribute to the improvement of safety.

4. d) Recognition and communication of both the personal and business

benefits of improving the safety environment.

4. 9.4 Encourage campaigns to promote safe behaviours out with the workplace,

which could include:-

1. a) Advice on Home Safety, Fire Safety, Driving Safety, Home Security,

Leisure Safety.

2. b) Provision of First Aid Kits, Personal Protective Equipment, ElectricalSafety Devices for home use

3. c) Provision of support to schools, colleges and local community.

5. 9.5 To stimulate continuous awareness and involvement:-

1. a) Periodic climate/culture surveys are used to gauge workforce

perceptions of the effectiveness of PRfS. (Reference 39)

2. b) Conduct regular analysis of key safety data with trends established

and communicated. Action tracking systems should be visible and

accessible.
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