HSE

Larry Wilson, author and CEO, SafeStart, explains the contributing factors to critical errors. (Image source: Canva)

Larry Wilson, author and CEO, SafeStart, explains the contributing factors to critical errors. Read on: 

Welcome back to the Paradigm Shifts series! In the last article we looked at serious injuries, the contributing factors and just how often mind not on task and eyes not on task were involved, or at least how often they were both involved in the serious injuries that have happened to us (almost every one). And if it’s of any comfort, the same questions have been asked to over a million people in 66 countries, so you’re not alone. The same two critical errors that contributed to your serious injuries also contributed to theirs (and mine).

In this article, like in the first four of this series, you will find a couple of new ideas or paradigm shifts that are somewhat counter-intuitive or almost the opposite of what most people think, that we will explore in more depth. We will also look at some practical, extremely cost effective (free) ways to reduce serious injuries 50% or more. But for now, let’s go back to the last article and the importance of those first two critical errors, eyes and mind not on task.

What we found was that for almost all of us, if we exclude sports, eyes not on task and mind not on task were involved in a very high percentage of our serious injuries, whether they were at work, at home, in the community or on the road. But it doesn’t seem quite right (almost misleading) to say that these two critical errors were just “involved”, because we are never trying to get seriously hurt anywhere or anytime! It’s more like these two errors had to happen or that they have to happen at the same time. Otherwise, if we see it coming, we will almost always get the benefit of our reflexes—which, in most cases, will be enough to prevent a direct hit, blind fall or a head-on collision.

This is not to say that these two critical errors by themselves cause all the serious injuries and fatalities. There are always at least two (or more) contributing factors. But quite often those other factors like the type of hazardous energy: electrical, mechanical, thermal and amount or kind of protection vary considerably as you go from burn to fall to motor vehicle accident. Whereas the first two critical errors, eyes and mind not on task—happening at the same time—are involved in almost every one. And since mind not on task is bound to happen if you know how to do something well, there is much more “leverage” or efficiency in getting people to put some additional effort or more effort than they are currently making (none) into improving their safety-related habits: like moving their eyes first, before they move, looking for line-of-fire potential before moving, looking for things that would cause them to lose their balance, traction or grip, etc.

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RAKEZ is renowned for its HSE standards. (Image source: RAKEZ)

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) has received the esteemed Silver Award from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), a British charity focused on saving lives and preventing life-altering injuries from accidents. This international accolade underscores RAKEZ's dedication to upholding and improving safety standards across its operations.

RoSPA's awards programme honours organisations worldwide that lead in promoting and maintaining top occupational health and safety standards.

HSE a priority

RAKEZ prioritises the health and safety of all individuals within its jurisdiction through various initiatives and standards. The economic zone has implemented comprehensive Health, Safety, and Environment (HS&E) regulations for all businesses operating under its authority. These regulations encompass occupational safety for industrial operations and health and safety protocols for construction processes, ensuring a secure working environment.

To aid businesses in adhering to these regulations, RAKEZ offers detailed guides with practical advice and information, and organises regular awareness seminars and training programmes. These sessions, led by pre-qualified experts, cover a wide range of topics, from basic safety awareness to specialised training for high-risk roles. Additionally, RAKEZ conducts regular inspections and audits to ensure compliance with its HS&E standards, promptly addressing any potential issues.

RAKEZ's commitment to health and safety is further evidenced by initiatives like the RAKEZ HSE Appreciation Awards, which recognise businesses that demonstrate exceptional commitment to HS&E, motivating others to achieve similar standards. The recent Nujoom Al Salama programme also rates businesses based on their HS&E performance, assessing compliance with regulations, incident rates, and proactive safety measures.

RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “We are thrilled to receive the RoSPA Silver Award for our proactive approach to health and safety management. We believe a safe workplace is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental right for every employee. This recognition reflects our continuous effort to create a secure and accident-free environment for all those who work within our jurisdiction.”

The qualification is suitable for a variety of road users, including those operating off-road and heavy vehicles. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has launched the RoSPA Level 2 International Award in Defensive Driving, and has been named as an accredited provider of Defensive Driver Training by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP)

Developed by the RoSPA Qualifications team, the RoSPA Level 2 International Award in Defensive Driving aims to improve a driver’s ability to drive safely and with confidence in whatever environment and conditions they operate in. The qualification is available to organisations whose employees drive regularly for work, on public roads and company premises.

The international qualification in defensive driving will see qualification centres offer defensive driving techniques such as hazard awareness, speed management, and risk assessment. Suitable for a variety of road users, including those operating off-road and heavy vehicles, the qualification ensures drivers understand the legal, cultural, and environmental requirements of driving in their region. They will also be educated on human factors such as distractions, fatigue and driver behaviour, and journey conditions, including driving on different types of road surface and the use of vehicle safety systems.

Penny Brooks, Driver Qualifications portfolio manager, said,

“We are proud to say that RoSPA has been accredited by the IOGP and now provides the oil and gas sector with a qualification that seeks to improve safety and save lives.”

Accidents involving road vehicles are a leading cause of death and injury in the oil and gas sector. Vehicle-related accidents contributed to more than a quarter of worker deaths in the USA’s oil and gas industry from 2014-2019, according to a report from the USA’s CDC, with around 20% of these involving lone workers.

DoE teams will engage with gas operators, establishments, and individuals to raise awareness. (Image source: Abu Dhabi DoE)

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has launched a summer safety campaign to enhance the safe use of petroleum products, particularly liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and promote a culture of safety awareness across the commercial, industrial and residential sectors

As part of this initiative, the DoE teams will engage with gas operators, establishments, and individuals over the summer months to raise awareness of safety standards, offer support, and increase awareness about the importance of compliance with the new regulations. This will include visits to restaurants, shopping malls, hotels, palaces, residential apartment buildings, villas, storage facilities, and large plants.

Marking the start of the campaign, the DoE acting director general of regulatory affairs, Dr Saif Saeed Al Qubaisi, visited Al Khalidiya Mall and Al Bateen Park Villas and Buildings in Abu Dhabi to inspect their central gas systems and offer support on complying with safety standards.

Dr Al Qubaisi said, “Safety is our top priority. One of the key objectives of this campaign is to reach as many stakeholders as possible. By engaging our stakeholders in person, we hope to build relationships, provide guidance on the new standards, and ensure that operators are complying with them.”

Eng. Ahmed Alsayed Mohamed Alsheebani, the DoE’s acting executive director of regulatory affairs for the petroleum products director, urged all sector operators and establishments to reach out to the DoE for any clarifications regarding regulations, the permitting system, and safety standards.

The DoE was recently mandated to regulate all aspects of trading petroleum products (for all non-ADNOC private operators) in the Emirate, and is developing a unified permit platform to govern and monitor trading activities of petroleum products and unify standards.

Alsheebani explained, “Effectively, we are consolidating and streamlining the petroleum products sector codes (starting with LPG) and collaborating with relevant Abu Dhabi partners to ensure a safer, sustainable, more environmentally friendly sector.”