Problem
identifcation
and resolution
Continuous
learning
Inquiring
attitude
Trust and
respect
Effective
communication
Foster an
environment
for raising
concerns
Leadership
Personal
accountability
Safe work
processes
Nine values of a culture of safety
Energy Workforce | FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES, VISIT www.PennEnergyJOBS.com | Winter 2014 25
Don’t Forget the Supply Chain
According to the Petroleum Equipment
Suppliers Association (PESA), “as part
of the new Workplace Safety Rule, all
operators will be required to develop,
implement and maintain a SEMS plan.
Many major operators are implementing their SEMS systems supply chain-wide, which means
the requirements will
reach many service
companies and manufacturers as well.” 13
One method of
assuring SEMS compliance and auditabil-ity is by extending use
of API Bulletin 97,
Well Construction
Interface Document
(WCID) guidelines.
This “bridging” document incorporates the
API 75 SEMS requirements and aligns the
operator work processes with those of the contractor. Originally designed as the relationship
between operators and drilling contractors it now encompasses other types of
suppliers as well.
Training
As with any set of change processes,
training is a Critical Success Factor
(CSF). This includes individuals at all
levels in the organization from top leadership to entry-level employees.
Firms are adopting simulation and
other sophisticated training tools simi-
lar to those used in aerospace as well as
completely redefining certain Knowl-
edge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) for a
number jobs. For example, the Interna-
tional Association of Drilling Contrac-
tors (IADC) has released new KSA com-
petencies for drilling, production and
marine personnel. 14
Moreover, supervisors must now certify that employees have demonstrated
an acceptable level of competency for a
given task. Therefore, the level of workforce fitness is greater.
So Where the Heck is SEMS?
Robbie Katanga stated, “Culture is how
organizations ‘do things’.” 15 Logically,
industry culture is the way the industry
does business.
While the industry transformation
to a Culture of Safety is relatively new,
expect this new culture to grow stron-
ger and more ingrained into the fabric
of the sector. Sometime in the not too
distant future, industry speak may not
use the word SEMS except for regula-
tory verbiage.
Just like today, no one thinks it is
appropriate to drive home at the end of
the day while drinking a beer, behavioral modification driven by SEMS will
truly be part of how we do business. ⊗
Endnotes
1 http://www.bsee.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Safety-and-Environmen-tal-Management-Systems—-SEMS/
Fact-Sheet/
2 http://www.gpo.gov/fds ys/pkg/FR-2013-
04-05/pdf/2013-07738.pdf
3 Ibid.
4 http://ogjresearch.stores.yahoo.net/the-state-of-sems.html
5 http://www.chevron.com/
about/operationalexcellence/
managementsystem/
6 Holland, Winford “Dutch” E. and Shemwell, Scott M. (2014). Implementing a
Culture of Safety: A Roadmap to Perfor-mance-Based Compliance. New York:
Xlibris.
7 http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hos-
pital-management-administration/5-traits-
of-high-reliability-organizations-how-to-hardwire-each-in-your-organization.html
8 http://www.aml-safety.com.au/AML-stores/_images/pdf-files/ Weick1987.pdf
9 Ibid.
10 http://www.bsee.gov/uploadedFiles/
BSEE/Final%20Safety%20Culture% 20
Statement.pdf
11 http://www.bsee.gov/BSEE-
Newsroom/Speeches/2013/
COS-Speech-04_ 25_13-final-website-( 4)/
12 http://www.therrinstitute.com/assets/cos-maturity-model—-2d-edition—
-adobe-online.pdf
13 http://www.pesa.org/index.php/news/c/
pesa-news/legal-2013/
14 http://www.iadc.org/
knowledge-skill-and-ability/
15 http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/05/
what-is-organizational-culture/
