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Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Applying offshore safety case principles to onshore construction

Peter Hayward A and Rick Robinson A
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Clough Limited.

The APPEA Journal 54(2) 552-552 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13125
Published: 2014

Abstract

The Australian resources industry’s safety statistics lag behind other parts of the world, although a step change is underway as contractors look to deliver the outstanding performance clients and the broader public expect. Clough is embedding a TQM, or top-to-bottom risk management strategy, through all levels of the organisation. This starts with identifying the legislative requirements, assessing the inherent hazards of specific scopes of work, and establishing the minimum controls to support safe and reliable behaviour in the field. These hazard assessments are then cascaded down through each project team, which applies them to the various stages of the project lifecycle. This results in a holistic approach to safety and ultimately ensures the critical risks and controls are understood and followed at the worksite. This extended abstract shares Clough’s experience in developing its TQM system and it looks at how the Australian resources industry can adopt a common approach to safety risk management so it becomes a tangible part of daily business. Successful implementation requires strong cultural discipline, clear values, and alignment between clients and contractors. In Clough’s experience, success relies on training and development coupled with accountability and empowerment of staff and contractors. This promotes ongoing engagement in the process and a commitment to safety learning in everything they do.

Peter is a senior HSE executive with more than 20 years’ experience in managing HSE programs and systems for resources companies in both the contracting and operations sectors.

Before joining Clough in January 2013, he spent nine years with Worley Parsons, where he was instrumental in the development and implementation of many successful HSE initiatives, including the OneWay integrity management framework.

Most recently he held the position of HSE Systems Manager for Worley Parsons on the QCLNG Upstream project.

Peter has also spent more than 20 years in senior roles with ExxonMobil, including—HSE Manager at the Fawley Refinery in the UK.

In his role as Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment, Peter reports directly to the CEO and is responsible for the development and implementation of company-wide HSE strategy, support standards and systems providing HSE services to over 6000 people.

Rick joined Clough in 2007 as the Project Director for Infrastructure on the Gorgon Downstream LNG project. He has more than 35 years of international engineering, procurement and project execution experience for large oil and gas and mining projects.

Before joining Clough, Rick held senior executive positions in project and general management at Fluor, including the position of President, Fluor Constructors, Inc. His international work experience spans five continents working on upstream and downstream projects in the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, South Africa, the Netherlands and Russia.

Rick is a qualified Civil Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering attained from University of Southern California, and a Master of Science in Engineering from Stanford University. He also has professional engineering registrations in both the USA and Canada.


References

Nopsema, 2013a—Annual offshore report. Regulatory information about the Australian petroleum industry to 31 December, 2012. http://www.nopsema.gov.au/assets/Publications-2/NOPSEMA-Report-2013-HR-Web-reduced-size-PDF.pdf.

Nopsema, 2013b—What is a safety case? Online Guidance. http://www.nopsema.gov.au/safety/safety-case/what-is-a-safety-case/

Safe Work Australia, 2013—Work Related Traumatic Injuries Fatalities Report. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/811/Traumatic-Injury-Fatalities-2012.pdf

Safe Work Australia, 2014—Online Worker Fatality Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/statistics/work-related-fatalities/pages/worker-fatalities. p10. Accessed 3 March 2014.