Production + Safety = Security

Safety poses no different problem from any other business or economic activity.  First, we should get our facts about the problem and then make our analysis so that we can tailor a safety program to meet our needs.  Hazard Risk Assessments should be completed for the rig/site.  Then JSAs should be developed for jobs (tasks).

An effective approach to safety requires a company policy that pinpoints responsibility and puts safety in its proper place in the scheme of production planning and activity.

Safety is another form of insurance or security. It costs nothing and requires only diligence and foresight in our everyday life.  It should be first and foremost in our minds at all times until it becomes an automatic part of our existence.  To enjoy a full measure of safety, it is only necessary to decide that we will not do anything careless or foolhardy at work or at play.  Follow the accepted and correct set of rules, develop safe habits and the reward will be no pain, suffering, needless expense and worry.

The most compelling reason for a company safety program is obviously the welfare of the people who work for it.  However, an effective safety program can also contribute much to our industry in increased production and lowered cost.

Safety’s contribution to production efficiency can be divided into three main categories:

First:

Safety will lower the direct costs of incidents, such as reduced compensation and medical payments.

Second:

Safety will lower the numerous indirect costs of incidents. All incidents, even minor cuts, delay production.  In a serious accident, time is lost not only by the injured employee, but also by other workers who work with him.

Third:

Probably the most important contribution of all: It can be clearly shown that successful accident prevention is a positive contribution to the quality and quantity of production. Emphasis is generally placed upon the prevention of accidents, with its too frequent negative implication.  Safety doesn’t merely save something or prevent something; it also ADDS something.  Most incidents arise from failure to follow procedures, failure to assess the hazards associated with the task, some fault in design, equipment arrangement/placement, training, supervision, operational procedure or practices, which are the basic causes of inefficiency.