Critical Evaluation of Health and Safety policy in Oil and Gas Industry

This article evaluates the development of policies for health and safety in the oil and gas industry. It covers the need for occupational health, safety symbols, and policy development procedures.

Critical Evaluation of Health and Safety policy in Oil and Gas Industry
CONTENT
1

1 Introduction 3-19
Background / Literature review 3-4
Previous Research 5-8
Research purpose and question 9
Occupational health 10-18
2 Research aims and method 19-34
Research aim 19
Research method 19-34
3 Summary 35
4 Conclusion 36
5 References 36-37
2

INTRODUCTION:
Background / Literature review
Now days all industries growing very fast whether it is constructive or oil and gas industry.Oil
and gas industries are on its highest demand. It is demanding more attention towards its safety
part because it is also leading to more accidents in these industries.
FIG: Showing risks arises from hazard, exposure and vulnerability. (PreventionWeb)
Most of heart breaking hazard are seen in oil and gas industries. We all aware with this that oil
and gas industry is the fastest growing industries. Beside all, it also increases the risk of injuries
and illness. So, these places need healthy and safe workplace.
There are so many companies which regulate their safety in their companies one of them is
Zargon which timely conduct company operations. These rules are mostly applicable laws and
regulations and also Zargon's safety policies and procedures (Zargon oil & Gas LTD).
This is statistical data for 2016;we have taken from (Offshore Statistics & Regulatory Activity
Report 2016)
 There was one fatal injury in 2016; there have been six fatalities in the last 10 years
 There were 20 specified injuries, with a rate of 66 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE)
workers
 There were 78 over-7-day injuries, with a rate of 257 per 100,000 FTE workers
3
RISK HAZARDS EXPOSURE VULNERABILITY

 There were 10 occupational diseases reported
 There were 263 dangerous occurrences reported
 There were 104 hydrocarbon releases; the hydrocarbon release rate has fluctuated over
the last 10 years
 There were 132 inspections undertaken at 101 offshore installations, operated by 44 duty
holders
 199 safety cases were assessed
 51 investigations were completed
 56 workplace health and safety concerns were followed up
 816 non-compliance issues were raised with operators
 37 enforcement notices were issued (35 improvement notices and two prohibition
notices) (Offshore Statistics & Regulatory Activity Report 2016)
This is some previous data which showing the accidents occur in the oil and gas industries. There
were so many issues related to safety which were not notice by the company. (Offshore
Statistics & Regulatory Activity Report 2016)
4

Previous Research:
Oil and gas industry is the fastest growing industries. With this growth, it providing new jobs and
economic stability. But its accident rate is 2 times higher than any other construction industry
and much more than any other general company. There are rapid increase in new technologies
may increase the hazard risk and may also change the hazard risk for workers in oil and gas
extraction industry. There is some very old data from 2003-2009 which shows the death rate of
workers.(Roxana Z. Witter,2014)
FIG: showing the occupational fatality rate by company type, size, oil and gas 2003-2009.
(Roxana Z. Witter, 2014)
These risks are increasing day by day so it needs to give more attention towards the safety of
workers in these industries. And it needs some rules and regulation which can be followed
strictly by all organization.
Health and safety policy:
A health and safety policy is a statement of rules and principle in which employer writes
company's commitment for the protection towards employees and to the public regarding their
health and safety. In this, they make commitment to its employees related to their health and
safety.
5

A health and safety policy is a program which contains elements of an organization and
objectives of this are to make them possible to achieve its goal regarding the protection of all in
an organization. (Service NL, Newfoundland Labrador Canada)
These policies basically develop a work environment in an organization and can contribute to
improved occupational safety performance in an organization. Poor implementation of the latter
can easily result in Increased Risk of ill Health, Injury, Death, Loss of Reputation, Legal
Repercussions namely.
Explaining first of all about the health and safety hazards in oil and gas industry for which we
have the need to implement the policies in most effective manner and following them in order.
(Service NL, Newfoundland Labrador Canada)
POLICIES:
Policies are the some guidelines and can be in written or unwritten form which are adopt by any
organization to overcome from any issues and situations. These are normally based on both by
logic and by people's perception about what they seeing their surround (organization), including:
(CommunityToolBox, Changing Policies: An Overview)
There are some assumptions as follows:
● about the way of things to be done:These are come from those values and combination
of those values which they learn as children, what "everyone knows", and cultural
factors, local custom, religion, and some "common sense”. (CommunityToolBox,
Changing Policies: An Overview)
● what work to be done. This gives ideas about how to face a specific issue. It also see
the problems get solved strictly and get punished. It get funding for the uplifting of
program.
● about people thinking: people think about other groups of people in general or a
particular basis. There is sensitivity toward other cultures so it's gives a more idea to
deals with the situations. (CommunityToolBox, Changing Policies: An Overview)
Policy development procedure
This is the Policy Development Procedure should reflect :
1. type of policy should be contemplated;
2. importance of the policy at a particular issue; (safety hazard and health hazard)
3. number of people affected;
4. effect of that policy on the particular group people;
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The policy development process should be transparent, effective and most importantly its
effectiveness.
Following are the steps to develop a policy in an organization
1. Issue Identification
For the policy development firstly Issues should be identified by the concern organization.
2. Staff Assessment
On basis of the Staff assessment reviews, makes the organization whether to go with the
issue or not.
3. Consultations
If the organization make sure with the issue than the further step policy development step
is necessary. then organization Staff determine the size and scope. It needs a flexible
approach.
4. Draft Policy Recommendations
Based on the consultations, organization staff makes a draft policy where no benefits for
consultations. This is draft of policy recommendation for the Board.
5. Second Stage Consultation
Staff prepares a second stage consultation process, based on the draft policy
recommendations. The public is given the opportunity to comment on the submissions
received during the first stage of the consultation process. As with the previous
consultation, CIRA Staff determines the size and scope of the consultation necessary,
executes the consultation and reports back to the Board. Similarly, as with the initial
consultation process, the size and scope of the consultation process are based on a
number of contextual factors. The content of the notice of second stage public
consultation is similar to the one used during the first stage of the consultation process.
(CommunityToolBox, Changing Policies: An Overview)
1. Preparation of Final Report
Based on the Second Stage Consultations, and positive response from the Board, a final
report is prepared by the staff. Finally, this report is posted for public.
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2. Final Approval
Lastly, it needs approval from the board and if it get approved than it returned to a
particular staff for its implementation. (CommunityToolBox, Changing Policies: An
Overview)
8

Research purpose and question:
Why health and safety policy required in an organization?
Health hazards which may arise from company’s activities and services, and include indirect
hazards that can be influenced, such as those resulting from sub- contractor activities carried out
and health hazards originating outside the any workplace which are affecting the health of
workers under the control of a company. Basically the hazards associated with oil and gas
industries for which the policies are implemented are namely physical environment, biological
hazards, chemical hazards, psychological hazards. (PreventionWeb)
Safety hazards are basically resulting from human error , as per The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (osha) guidelines 90percent incidents in oil and gas industry is due to
human error namely ergonomic hazards, vehicle collision, fires, Explosions and High Pressure
Lines.
(United States Department of Labor)
PURPOSE:
The aim of this work was to evaluating development of policies which can be successfully
implemented in oil and gas industries. This study was encouraged by the quest to know the
answers of number of fundamental questions on an organization and I will be able to know more
about health and safety policies implementation.
There are some questions which we need to know before implementation of policies in oil and
gas industry.
How much they got succeed in their desire journey of health and safety?
Are the policies implemented by organization are actually followed?
Is it flexible?
Is there any way to control or manage them with more efficiently?
Is there factual evidence linking safety performance and safety culture with the company policy?
(Management Study guide)
9

Occupational health
Occupational health and safety is covering a vast area in all field having broad scope. Its aim is:
● to maintain and promote the mental, physical along with social wellfare of every workers
in all field and occupation;
● to prevent the workers from bad effects on their health which is caused during the
working conditions;
● to protect the workers from their employment risks which directly effect on their health;
In others, occupational health and safety takes care of worker’s every small risk creating factors
in an organization.
In order to run a complete occupational health and safety practice, it requires complete attention
of whole organization in these programmes.
● In most of the organization, they have not much care about occupational health issues.
However we know that healthy workers can makes a safe and healthy workplace.
Simultaneously we can say that a safe environment makes a healthy workplace. But
important point is that one must be focus on both issues of safety and health in every
workplace. (International Labour Organization)
Exposure to hazards in the workplace can lead to serious illness. (FIG. International
Labour Organization)
10

Need for the occupational health
Work is the key part of people’s lives because any workers spend seven to eight hours a day in
any organization which can be related to any department (steel, oil, gas, etc.).So it’s necessary to
provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment. Still many workers are not getting the
same situation.
Every day many workers are faced different health hazards all over the world. These are from
dust, noise, extreme temperature etc.
Figure 16.1 A multidisciplinary approach towards a sustainable and equitable development
(Occupational Health Services)
Some employers think little about responsibilities towards their workers' safety and health and
there are some employers even they don't know about their legal and moral responsibilities
towards their workers from hazards. Because of the hazards and less attention towards safety and
health, work-related accidents are very common in all over the world. So every organization
having the need of some safety and health policy so work-related accidents can be stopped.
(International Labour Organization)
11

Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) is defined by Gallagher as “A
combination of the planning and review, the management organizational arrangements, the
consultative arrangements, and the specific program elements that work together in an integrated
way to improve health and safety performance” (Gallagher, 2000:1)
Safety Symbols
In any workplace everyone should know how to read the all symbols on safety signs. As it is an
effective way to communicate with hazards. Reading the safety symbols is a tricky business as
some have words and a clear message, while many of them are visual symbols to warn of
potential danger.
There are two different types of safety symbols: one refers to general safety protocols, while the
other is used specifically for labeling elements that may be hazardous. Since most workplaces
have a combination of both, it’s important to understand each of them.
Signs and symbols are no substitute for training, but they do serve as important reminders. A
simple sign with a safety symbol helps workers to identify the potential hazard and make an
immediate decision. The best occupational health and safety programs use a series of signs and
symbols to convey a complete message. For example, a hazardous gas symbol may alert workers
to the potential presence of a harmful gas. But an accompanying sign mandating the use of a gas
mask takes it a step further by telling workers how to handle the hazard. (Safety Symbols and
Their Meanings” (n.d))
There are four key types of safety symbols:
● Prohibition
● Warning
● Mandatory
● Emergency
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There are specific colors and sign shape for each categories and they are same around the world
as per safety regulations.
Category Color Information/
instruction
Features Examples
Prohibition Red ● Dangerous
behavior
● Stop
● Shutdown
● Emergency
cut-out
devices
● Evacuation
● Round
Shape
● Black
pictogram
on white
background
● Red edging
with a red
diagonal
line
● Do not
touch
● No access
for
unauthorize
d persons
● Do not
enter
Warning Yellow ● Be careful
● Take
precautions
● Hazard
nearby
● Triangular
Shape
● Black
pictogram
on yellow
background
● Black
edging
● Electric
shock
● Magnetic
field
● Biological
hazard
● General
warning
Mandatory Blue ● Specific
behavior or
● Round
Shape
● Wear
safety
glasses
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action ● White
pictogram
on blue
background
● Wash
hands
● Use safety
harness
Emergency Green ● Doors
● Exits
● Escape
routes
● Equipment
and
facilities
● Rectangula
r or square
Shape
● White
pictogram
on green
background
● Emergency
exit
● Eyewash
station
● First aid kit
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Signs and Symbols according to color and shapes. (Safety Symbols and Their Meanings”(n.d)).
Health and Safety Hazards in Oil and Gas Industries:
Health and Safety in Petroleum Industry
In Oil and Gas industries Safety and health management plays the vital role in industries. This is
because most of the end products, operational conditions and chemicals used or associated with
this industry can pose serious safety and health threats to the workers. [Health and Safety in
Selected Industrial Sectors” (Gaurav Thandon)]
In Oil and Gas industries most of the workers were injured very fatally during their job. “This
report was generated by NORA Oil and Gas Extraction Council”. It also stated that the accidents
occur were nearly fatal and were resulted from vehicles accidents, crashes on highway and
workers struck by objects and equipment used by those workers in industries.
The workers working in Oil and Gas Industries are exposed to various risks. In daily routine of
workers it is essential and important to integrate effective occupational health and safety
management program for benefit of workers. And hence, the working conditions of workers
should be monitored continuously.
The workers should undergo regular health checkup and health protocols should be made for the
workers and it should be made mandatory for every worker depending on the job and type of
work area to identify possible changes from the normal health. It is also necessary to take
precautions in advance for benefit of workers.
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The hazards occurring in Oil and Gas Industries can be divided into two broad categories:
Safety and Injury Hazards
Health and Illnesses Hazards
Safety and Injury Hazards
Accidents caused from vehicle in workplace
Contact Injuries
Accidents caused by fire and explosions
Falls, slips and trips in workplace
Confined spaces
Health and Illnesses Hazards
So many hazards occur in the oil and gas industries, leads to following illness.
 chemical hazards (toxic, corrosive, carcinogens, asphyxiates, irritant and sensitizing
substances);
 physical hazards (noise, vibration, radiations, extreme temperature);
 biological hazards (virus, parasites, bacteria);
 ergonomic hazards (manual handling activities, repetitive motions, awkward postures);
 psychosocial hazards (overwork, odd working hours, isolated sites, violence).
Managing Occupational Safety and Health Risks
Occupational Safety and Health management is important in all organization and main aim of
this system is to detecting and analyzing the safety and health hazards for the right steps should
be taken regarding the risk. Business processes are very complex in Oil and Gas Industries and
hence it is essential to use systematic approach to manage every hazard related to health and
safety. The solution model of systematic approach can be based on the PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-
Check-Act).
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Safety and Health policy cycle (PDCA Cycle)
Risk Management Process
To prevent work related injuries and illness risk management plays crucial role. It includes:
Risks identification
The risks should be evaluated and prioritized
To control the risks preventive and protective measures should be implemented.
Proper risk management process is very important and essential in many circumstances in Oil
and Gas Industries.
For example:
Job Safety Analysis: Systematic evaluation of jobs, tasks, processes or procedures
and eliminating or reducing the risks or hazards to As Low As Reasonably Practical (ALARP) in
order to protect workers from injury or illness is all included in this process.
Workplace inspections and audits
Change management - New hazards should be identified properly, and new equipment /process
must be introduced for regulatory needs.
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Safety and Health Management System
There should be operational sites which ensure the correct mapping of risks and their controls
involved in oil and gas industries.
It makes workers to follow right health and safety rules. It should help against the violations
occurs in Oil and Gas sector.
It must be with well strategies and action plans. It should be understandable by workers and also
easily available for all the workers.
Occupational Safety and Health Management System is one of the important things who ensure
successful execution after confirming the operational safety in all ways/segments of Oil and Gas
industries.
Benefits
In Oil and Gas Industries, it is made operational for hazard and risk identification and enables for
implementation of various methods for controlling regarding safety purpose.
For the welfare of all the employees and ensuring towards more inspired, good workforce is
necessary
The leading and lagging safety indicators and tracking it for monitoring OSHMS is done by the
risk assessment process and this can be performed regularly.
The accidents and incidents costs associated with it are reduced.
Improved regulatory compliance.
OSH management system helps in improving the competitive edge and relationships between
various people of an organization like contractors, clients, suppliers, employees. Because of
nature of the Oil and Gas industries, there are a need for the implementation of an efficient
Safety and Health Management System which is very important for improving its performance.
All over the world, many countries getting participated in this for more strict and obligatory
safety and health standards and legislations. (Safety and Health Management System in Oil
and Gas Industry)
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Research aims and method
Research aims:
As explained earlier the method to develop a policy in an oil and gas industry is structured
process keeping in mind the hazards associated, staff members involved with the job and the
stake holders of company.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors that involving in the positive and negative impact
in oil and gas industries. This was got by interviewing six senior safety/project managers from
oil and gas industry that was showing strong safety and health cultures and need to of the
policies in the organization.
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Research Methods:
In this, I interviewed the people of the reputative organization related to oil and gas industry.
For this I have selected top most management people. Prepared some questions and tried to know
their conception about health and safety policies. So that I can evaluate the policies followed in
oil and gas industries.
Safety managers are the senior most postings any organization and can give brief idea about
occupational hazard and company policy. The aim of this work was to evaluate what works for
them. These are some question asked from interviewees are as follows:
Interviewee 1
Health and safety functional heads
The head of health and safety, quality and environmental (HSQE) department in a management
company providing services to its customers in shipping industry (HSQE department). Which
ensure that organizations have effective health and safety systems in their place, and able to
protect their employees, makes customer confidence and also helpful in the enhancements of
business reputation?
Interviewee 2
Construction managers (Site manager)
A site manager in an oil and gas company. Pacific Oil & Gas (PO&G) is a big energy resources
development company, and their investments is on the energy supply making chain, also oil and
gas. (PacificOil & Gas (PO&G))
Interviewee 3
Operations managers
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Operations manager is the one who plays a leading role in managing raw materials as well as
personnel of the organization. Main objectives of his job are - Oversight of inventory, purchasing
and supplies .The main work of the Operations Manager is to designing the various operations,
and it trying to use as few as resources so that can generate a better product. Operational
manager in an organization aiming about Petroleum and exploration, production operations, and
transport, storage, marketing and follow further step till its safe and successful ending.
Interviewee 4
Associate directors
An Associate Director is simply a Director who is on a slightly lower management rung and so
tends to only exist in larger companies where the distinction matters.
A Associate director with over 10 years’ experience in oil and gas industry working for a very
reputed company in Singapore woes market value is expected be around 2 billion. Company
employs over 5000 workers working on land and sea.
Policy development is part of your organization’s overarching policy management process. This
process includes managing your organization’s policies or procedures throughout all stages of
the policy life cycle, such as drafting, editing approving, updating, distributing, gaining
employee attestation and maintaining an auditable database of records. So this process should be
documented, and documented well.
Set of questions developed for analysis
1. How integral is the policy to the success, support and enablement of daily operations?
2. Is the policy required or recommended by local, state law?
3. Have recent events necessitated changes to or the creation of a policy?
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4. Would the policy resolve existing challenges?
5. Are all the members aware about the policy?
6. Does the employee refer to the policy when carrying out the jobs?
7. Is the company policy ever amended after adoption?
8. Are plans made on how the policy will be implemented and who will be responsible for
implementing it?
9. Are there any training or professional development requirements associated with the
development, implementation or monitoring of this policy? If so, how will they be
addressed?
10. Is a policy required or is the issue better resolved through other means such as improved
communication, an educational campaign, or a memorandum?
11. Does the implementation of policy bring the necessary changes to the organization as
planned?
1. Importance of policy in daily operations :
Policies are required every time in an organization but needs more at the time of operational
activities. Policies also help to reader when dealing with issues or activities which having a
importance to the company such as safety and health issues that may have serious problems.
Policies are very important in any workplace of an organization which helps follow up and
clarifying the norms to everyone and again helps them to manage more effectively as it telling
unacceptable and acceptable standards in any workplace.
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Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional heads is of a view that when the policy are formed ,
all the staff must be briefed about the policies, in order to ensure that the policy is well
understood by everybody. Before we want to integrate policies in daily operations we must
ensure that these understood by all the staff. Senior management on shore and at sea should be
responsible for implementing the policies on all the tasks being done and monitoring effective
compliance
Interviewee 2: Construction manager was of the view that policy are the one that keep the work
clear of chaos. If there are no policies implemented or enforce from the company it will be
difficult to proceed in the work. He was of the view that risk assessment and meetings carried out
prior any work are part of the policies and play a very important role in safety of people.
Interviewee was of the view that, policies are of useful to alert employees at the jobsite at the
time of risks - Sometimes in our daily work it is all the machines that surround us, there is toxic
gas ,oil and different dangerous situations. There are so many machines which making risk for
the workers and can be controlled because of good policies.
Interviewee 3: Operation manager highlighted that policy provide a detailed and planned way of
doing jobs, which in turn reduces the man days required to complete the job. He focused 80 %
of the incidents are because of human errors and policy enforced reduces them, hence as per him
it’s really important to follow the policy. As per him the well implementation of policy reduces
the chances of any incident or accident.
Interviewee 4: Associate director was of the view that policy implementation reduces the LTI
(loss time injury) days in a company and hence improving the status of the company among the
customers. It results in company having a better environment for the workers to work in respect
to safety.
Negative impact
When questioned if these conditions of implementing policy on daily basis helping employees to
maintain the better behavior towards safety and health. Big companies respond to the known big
projects but also needs to follow the safety laws. Interviewee one, four has accepted that such
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practice with time help in improving the safety culture within any organization. Interviewee two
and three was of the view that anyhow it increases the duration of nay work to be done but it
reduces the hazards or injury which is likely to happen if not done with policy in mind.
2. Policy recommendation
In most government levels the key policy decisions are made through Policy
recommendations. These are generally written policies which are prepared for a group
or organization having power to make policy decisions. It make the information available
for all those who facing the problem regarding policy on a particular issue .So a research
method is used generally for solving policy problem of public. It gives brief about
working method of a policy. A recommendation needs a strong evidence for its
acceptance by policymaker. The international best practice is a better chance for the
acceptance of policy.
Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional head informed that the policy of the company
which are maintained in SMS (structured management system ) at the shore and sea are first
established keeping all the local and international laws in view. Along with it, all the
representative members of each department regularly have meetings and discuss any new hazard
associated with the industry and if there is any need to recommend any new policy. He further
explained “when near misses or minor accidents occur we ensure that no one is put on the spot
for them, it is necessary that this is done so that employees can always speak and report such
incidents for investigation and future improvements‟.
Interviewee 2: Construction manager told us that on ground level all the incidents, injury or
accidents which occur have to be reported to the management level on weekly basis. He showed
us a form which was posted at different places in order to log down any near miss witnessed by a
employee. As per him, if the incident, injury or accident is quite often reported management
comes up with new policy to reduce the hazards associated with it.
Interviewee 3: Operation manager was of the same view as health and safety functional head
regarding the policy required or recommended by local, state law. He addition to it emphasized
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that when recommending any new policy man power and cost to be bear by the company is also
kept in mind by them.
Interviewee 4: Associate director was of the view that policy recommendation when made
should highlight the issues clearly. It should be in line with existing strategies or legislation
which ever necessary. The policy which is recommended in addition to latter show an impact in
the real world and can use foreign examples like if a same approach has been implemented in
another organization. The highest quality policies can be are recommended and suggested by
academic researcher which can have huge useful impact on organization, economy and
individual lives. But instead of this it can be further improved for better performance,
effectiveness can be increased and also uplift the quality of lives. Its area are for such changes is
education, culture and health.
3. Changing and creating of policies as necessary
Change is a certainly a very important part in everybody’s life, it can be a small or a big change
for us or it can be a change in industries, technology or other categories namely education, health
care and policies.
Policy change refers to cumulative shifts in existing structures, or new and innovative policies
(Bennett and Howlett 1992). When analyzing the question of policy change, one can draw on the
literature on path dependence (Pierson 2000). This model argues that it is generally difficult to
change policies because institutions are sticky, and actors protect the existing model (even if it is
suboptimal) (Greener 2002). Path dependence means that ‘once a country or region has started
down a track, the costs of reversal are very high’. As Pierson (2000) notes, public policies and
formal institutions are usually designed to be difficult to change so past decisions encourage
policy continuity. Applying path dependence to immigration policy, Hansen argues that ‘path
dependence is established only when it can be shown that policy change was considered and
rejected for reasons that cannot be explained without reference to the structure of costs and
incentives created by the original policy choice’. In addition, to introduce a major change,
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policy-makers have to wait for a critical juncture (Capoccia and Kelemen 2007) or a window of
exceptional opportunity called conjuncture (Wilsford 1994).
Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional head informed policies are reviewed regularly , duly
changed and created as required on the basis of recent studies and data collected from various
sources from the organization as well as outside organization.
Interviewee 2: Construction manager was able to inform us that policies in the company are
regularly revised as the new policy is posted and training is carried out time to time to keep all
the employees well versed with them.
Interviewee 3 and Interviewee 4: Operation manager and Associate director were both of the
same view regarding changing and creating policies as necessitated. As per them policies are
always reviewed by the relevant people and during the monthly meetings, they get to hear all the
new hazards by relevant departmental heads and then it is discussed whether the new policy is
required. As per them, policy creating is an easy task rather than amending the existing policy as
the employees are already familiar and so use to old policies, that when the amendment is issued
people are initially resistant against it. So when an amendment is issued then it is very important
to address the reason for amendment and frequent training for the policy change is done.
Negative impact
Interviewee 1 was of the view that a necessitous health and safety policy in an organization can
result in major injuries or casualties. An injury or casualty which is linked to its work can put an
employee out of work for his life as well as impact his standard of life; it may also impact your
organizations productiveness, balance sheet and reputation – which all are very difficult to
recover from. Interviewee 3 and 4 were of the view that a good reputation is a integral part of an
organization achievements. It can bring an organization with a great volume of investors and
customers, an improved community opinion of your business, and a larger number of individuals
who will be eager to join your team. However, a poor health and safety culture which is result f
bad policy implementation will impact your reputation among the customers. If you don’t
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familiarize the importance of health and safety policy, your organization may face a drastic
decrease in its productivity and an increase in staff turnover. In the end, why should your
employee be motivated to work hard for you if you don’t show that organization value them to
provide them with even the most basics of requirements? Everyone should feel safe when they
go to work. If they don’t, chances are they’ll look elsewhere. In an organization of you have
importance for your health and safety responsibilities, you will have your staff motivated and
will be able to able to retain your good and hardworking employees who can work for
productively and will remain free of any harm.
4. Policy resolving existing challenges
“How well an individual, an organization, and an entire society can harness, access, share, and
make use of available information will ultimately decide their ability to generate economic
growth and to enhance the quality of life for all.” (Gwang-Jo Kim Director of UNESCO
Bangkok.)
In this policy, briefly described the role of policy in resolving the issues. There are so many laws
decisions related to its creation, flow which are includes in a policy making process. A huge
variety of issues are covering which having management, information, its use, communicating
technologies also data privacy and protection.
Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional head was of the view that policy is the most
effective written documents in an organization. Employees well versed with policies are aware
about the company heritage and values. As per the records available with the head of health and
safety, there has been decline in the incidents. All the data collected by them is kept and
produced in the bar diagram for study. He was of the view that policy implementation have
resulted in the desire the outcomes as expected by the organization.
Interviewee 2: Construction manager informed us that incidents, accidents, injury all have been
reduced .he gave us a example that as per the company policy all the employees are encouraged
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to submit as much as possible near miss to office which is than evaluated by them and further
sent to all the employees in order to inform them various causes of incident and accident in real
world, which in turn have resulted in less reported cases. All the employees are also well
informed and hence increase the health and safety of employees.
Interviewee 3: Operation manager was of the view that “to an extent yes they resolve their
purpose”. He believes it’s not entirely possible to say that they fully resolve their purpose as
there is always a human error and policies are only reliable when fully complied with.
Interviewee 4: Associate director agreed mostly with interviewee 1 and interviewee 3. As per
him policy resolves its purpose as long as it’s fully compliable with. He further explained that
policy are good as long as the people complying them are fully trained and he further clarified
that all the policies that they have enforced are fully monitored and every month they are
reviewed and scrutinized in order to verify that policies are serving their purpose in organization
of maintaining safety of employees.
5. Policy awareness in organisation
Policy awareness is a process which is automated having information within the systems hence
users gets simplified versions of policies. This information is available in information resources.
Sometimes it provides hard copy of the policy which is published and some others are sharing in
general. The main purpose of policy awareness is the enhancement of policy, follows the rule
and allowance for accountability.
Email and instant messages are uesd sometimes for the promotion of Policy awareness,. There
are some more ways which help in their promotion like voicemail, by the coworkes , in training
session, other web portals.
Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional head explained that as per there data and records
employees were well versed with organisation policies. Additionally company promotes through
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email and instant messages, Web portals on the corporate intranet, voicemail, word-of-mouth
from coworkers and supervisors, training sessions and periodic newsletters.
Interviewee 2: Construction manager told us that employees are well versed with policies as
regular tool box meeting is carried out prior starting any new task and hard copy is circulated
along with training session and email messages.
Interviewee 3 and Interviewee 4: Operation manager and Associate director were of the view
that as interviewee 1 and 2. Additionally they informed us that now day’s companies are
planning to go web based and posting their policies on internet and starting web based training.
To create more ease of availability and employees can train themselves at their own time.
6. Effective implementation of policy
In general concept policy implementation is the one of the important stage of policy cycle, after
its passing it should be immediately come into force. Implementation, means those rules of
administration in which various organization, techniques and procedures are working together so
that adopted policies comes into effect and gives a good result.
Implementation leads to outputs, or further extension of the program like expenditures which is
committed to that program.
Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional head explained that they monitor the effective
implementation of the policy and all staff is motivated and empowered to work safely and to
protect their long-term health, not simply to avoid accidents. Appropriate consultation is carried
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out, its effective promotion and communication after its complition, increases the workers
responsibility towards effort for safty and health.
Interviewee 2: Construction manager informed that he is to ensure that policy is implemented
among all the employees after it is enforced.
Interviewee 3: Operation manager was of the view that implementation would be effective when
active and reactive monitoring of the policy is in place. As you are aware in oil and gas industry
there is no second chance after any incident, so the emphasis is mostly given on the active
monitoring of the policy.
Interviewee 4: Associate director advised that the aim of organizations should be to reduce risks
in workplace. So to implement the idea of minimizing risks a systematic and planned approach
should be implemented to the safety and health policy and therefore an effective safety and
health management system should be integrated. To reduce risks and eliminate hazards risk
assessment should be done and they should be set at top priority.
If risks cannot be eliminated, they should be minimized by the use of physical controls and safe
systems of work or, as a last resort, through the provision of PPE. Performance standards should
be established and used for measuring achievement. Specific actions to promote a positive safety
and health culture should be identified. There should be a shared common understanding of the
organization’s vision, values and beliefs on health and safety.
7. Training programs for effective policy implementation
After the procedures and policies are developed by any organization, it's important not to just
keep in files but also used by the organization they are used in organization. Despite of your
process, how staff and volunteer will communicate with procedure and policies and make sure
they are using and following it properly, namely
1. The training program should be developed so that it can be undertaken by all staff
and volunteers.
2. The short quiz must be conducted at the end of any information session or training
and participants should be asked to show that they have got the information
properly .
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The most important purpose of your procedures and policies is to make staff and volunteers –
new and existing – understand it and after that they should create a welcoming and safe
environment for everyone.
Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional head -viewed that the front line employees and
supervisors have got a great deal of training in health and safety issues due to legal requirements,
but managers did not received the training. He took the note that around 60% of company
executives had received basic health and safety management training, while 20% have “very
basic” training and others have never had any safety training at all. He stressed that to derive
better management commitment; top managers in construction should improve the level of health
and safety management training- "they may not have strength to be firm on a safety issue if they
don’t have the experience or necessary training".
Interviewee 2: Construction manager told us “our employees are given training periodically and
as new hazards arise from technology and other projects, this has helped to maintain safe
working systems across our sites and projects’.
Interviewee 3: Operation manager was of the view that regular training should be done of the
employees keeping safety and health as primary focus. He said that these trainings to be included
in seminar and conferences in order to have participation of maximum people and have a
increases interaction regarding the same.
Interviewee 4: Associate director agreed with the operational manager views and advised that
training programs for the effective implementation of policies are very important organisation
and should be carried out by all employees diligently. Having the fully aware about the values
and heritage of the company.
8. Is a policy required or is the issue better resolved through other means
such as improved communication, an educational campaign, or a
memorandum?
Policies are to solve social and technical problems and to legitimize the implementation of
programs and projects. Organization creates policies to ensure coherence and to avoid
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contradictions. The sharing of information between individuals by using speech. Individuals
working within a business need to effectively use verbal communication that employs readily
understood spoken words, as well as ensuring that the enunciation, stress and tone of voice with
which the words are expressed is appropriate. Hence we can in short conclude:
 Oral communication of work rules. Communicating orally allows give and take between
you and the employees. However, it's hard to document a conversation and be sure that you've
come away from it with both parties in agreement. Oral communication is usually best for
very small businesses, where the employer and employees need a lot of flexibility in dealing
with each other.
 Written communication of work rules. Giving employees your policies, rules, and
expectations in writing has several advantages — it allows you to document that the
employee was informed about the rules and, if you've written them correctly, it's clear what
you expect. However, remember that if the rule is in writing, it will be very difficult to
change.
Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional head was of the view that creation of policy or use
of verbal communication mainly depends on the size of organization. As per him in a big
organization it is very difficult to maintain a verbal communication and best way to establish is
through a policy.
Interviewee 2: Construction manager agreed with the views of interviewee 1 and said “he
cannot go and tell everybody what you have to do today and have some kind of understanding
regarding the job” as he have 1000+ employees in organization.
Interviewee 3: Operation manager agreed with views of interviewee 1 and interviewee 2.
Interviewee 4: Associate director explained that verbal communication can be done for small
business. But as the organization size increases and your employees increases to build the trust of
customers and have a good business strategy in the market you need to have guidelines for your
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employees to work in form of policies. Your expectation from them in order to achieve the goals
you have to set standard.
9. Policy bringing the changes planned
Change may be a just word which comes out our uneasiness in us. Once a change is occurs, than
it should be planned and further importantly a good communication helps in the implementation
of this change. There should be an impact of this change on the employees who manage this
process. After change occurred, follow-up its implementation, changes working out or not.
Sometimes changes occurs our beyond our expectation. When it is not planned than it doesn’t
work. When this is the case, management should check that it didn’t work and make some
further changes until the good result is achieved.
Interviewee 1: Health and safety functional head advised us that the policy implemented is
monitored and its progress logged recorded to verify that it’s serving its purpose of maintaining
employee’s health and safety in organization.
Interviewee 2: Construction manager was of the view that whenever a policy is enforced to
certain task there is obviously a change in employees’ perspective regarding that work and they
are more aware about the hazards associated with it. As per him policy brings the changes
required as long as employees are well trained and familiar with them, and most importantly
properly implemented for the cause.
Interviewee 3: Operation manager was of the view that policies serve its purpose to efficiently
run an organization, as per him “from his experience in industry an organization can be well
focused to achieve its goals by having a good health and safety policy which encourages its
employees to maintain a good working environment.”
Interviewee 4: Associate director as per him policies acts as an essential part for the health of
business and it also outlines the organizational and operational structure of a company. While
conducting succession planning they are playing a significance role, the process in which a
successor is identified for a key position. As Policies are not for the short time, having long time
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goals and creating structure with the help of rules and guidelines, this makes a transition very
easier.
Summary:
In summary, the factors that impact on health and safety policy in organization can be grouped
into six categories: individual factors, individual factors, and project factors, team related factors,
supervisory factors and management factors. This work is important part of the evaluating the
health and safety policies in the oil and gas industries while came to know that they are taking
care of their workers and also applying policy well but it needs more and more practices to fully
understand the all rules and procedure. Because oil and gas industries needs more attention it is a
very critical place for the workers having hazards most of time like gas release or blasting cases
in future , we should revise the polices so that can create more healthy and safe workplace.
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Conclusion:
In the end, we can see from the interviewee’s answers in relation to the questions presented to
them that in some cases policies are important to improve occupational safety & health and
develop performance of organization. In reality safety and health has particular importance in our
history.
When discussing about the implementation and the use of the policies in an organization, we
found out that most of the people in organization were satisfied by the use and implementation of
the policies. Whatever the negative effects which arises from various situations have been
explained latter.
Following factors that influence positive and negative impact of policy in an organization have
been determined by interviewing health and safety head, construction manager (site manager),
operational manger and associate director in big organization which are known to show their
strong safety cultures. The factors which have been found to be positive influence policy
development of health and safety are these:
 Top officials in an organization and their commitment for leadership and safety
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 Senior management role in training about policy awareness
 Formal and informal communication regarding the matters of formal trust
 Employee involvement in finding the risks and top management role in determining hazard
 implementing general reporting of accidents and near misses.
 time to time training to identify various hazards which are arising from new projects and
technology.
References:
Health and safety Executive, 2016, Offshore Statistics & Regulatory Activity Report 2016
http://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/hsr2016.pdf
Newfoundland Labrador,
(n.d),http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/ohs/safety_info/si_safety_programs.html
CommunityToolBox, Changing Policies: An Overview (n.d) ,https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-
contents/implement/changing-policies/overview/main
PreventionWeb, Hazards(n.d),https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/hazard
Roxana Z. Witter, Liliana Tenney, Suzanne Clark, and Lee S. Newman, 2014, Occupational
Exposures in the Oil and Gas Extraction Industry: State of the Science and Research
Recommendations.
United States Department of
Labor(n.d),https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?
p_id=98&p_table=TESTIMONIES
Management Study guide(n.d), https://www.managementstudyguide.com/factors-affecting-job-
design.htm
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International Labour Organization(n.d),
http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/en/osh/intro/inmain.htm
Occupational Health Services, http://www.ilocis.org/documents/chpt16e.htm
Safety Symbols and Their Meanings (n.d), http://www.dcmgroup.ca/en/news/safety-symbols-
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Health and Safety in Selected Industrial Sectors” (Gaurav Thandon), (n.d),
https://www.slideshare.net/gauravhtandon1/health-and-safety-in-selected-industrial-sectors
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gas/safety-and-health-management-system-in-oil-and-gas-industry/
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