Workforce engagement

As an elected safety rep (ESR) for over six years, I have seen my fair share of good and bad ways in the engagement of safety related issues  with safety reps and the wider offshore and onshore workforce.. There is good out there and it needs shared to be used by all, and for the bad we need to find ways to help stamp these out.

Having been given the opportunity for a  secondment from Petrofac to the HSE as Head of Workforce Engagement I am now working alongside HSE inspectors to help improve the link between the HSE and the on and offshore workforce.  This has given me the chance to really help the regulator focus on the value and   importance of proper engagement when it comes to Major Hazards within the industry, with Safety Reps and the workforce.

As part of my job at HSE and as Co-Chair of Workforce Engagement Support Team (WEST) for Step Change I will be highlighting the Safety and business benefits of good workforce engagement  it is very clear to me that the two go hand in hand.  You should if you do not already know that Industry does have a legal requirement to engage with the workforce

"Every employee has a duty, while at work- to co-operate with the employer so far as is necessary to enable the employer or any other person to comply with a duty or requirement imposed by health and safety law" HSWA 1974 (section 7)

 "Safety requires co-operation between everyone who has a contribution to make to ensure Health and Safety on the offshore installation. Offshore Installations and Pipeline works (Management and Administration) Reg. 8:

In addition to my secondment to the Health and Safety Executive I still have direct involvement with the Step Change G18- ESRs, for those of you who do not know about this forum its primary objective is to bring workforce concerns and thoughts directly to the Step Change Leadership Team (SCLT) and play active parts in the workgroups, the SCLT consists of the Workforce Safety Reps (G18) Trade Unions, Regulator, Oil Industry Leaders. The offshore industry when compared to other industries is better when it comes to occupational and personnel injuries, but this is a high hazard industry and  because of its isolation and surroundings needs the entire workforce to really focus on Major Accident Hazards, along with the hazards people face with everyday activities offshore.

The recent incidents throughout the world confirms the hazardous nature of working offshore, and the recent incidents in the UKCS

The effectiveness that workforce engagement has to benefit the safety, efficiency and maintaining safe production in all Hazardous workplaces needs as much focus as every other part of regulatory compliance.

I believe I am in a very good position to raise the profile in promoting the value and need of maintaining industry assets; and encouraging management and leaders to listen to their ESR and the workforce. I will be working alongside my colleagues at HSE to make sure everyone is engaged in making this happen.

I will be updating you on a wide range of activities to keep you all as informed about what we are trying to do to "Play our Part". You will find in the coming months updates in Tea Shack News which I hope will give you some insight into the activities we are undertaking to promote good workforce engagement

It will be great if I can get your support so please feel free to drop me an email if you want to discuss any issues you are concerned about.  I will fully respect confidentiality of detail. [email protected]

Updated 2023-09-13