Success Story — Oil and Gas

For several years I provided training for the specialist workforce servicing the oil and gas industry. Few high reliability industries present the challenges and ramifications of error like oil and gas and the results when errors occur are well documented.

Worldwide operations are conducted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The technical precision of the personnel and machines that power global energy are some of the most resilient and safety conscious in the world. What I learnt as I stood amongst the platforms and equipment that quite simply make this work possible, I realised that the most important and ever present factor that underpins this industry, is still the people. 

It is still the human behind the every day decisions, processes and practises that are the difference between 'operations normal' and disaster. Just like the design, manufacture and servicing of the specialist mechanical tools of the trade, it's the preparation, training and ongoing support of the people behind the machines that makes the ultimate difference. 

I am proud to have played a part in helping one team achieve an Australian first - the first Chevron Australia oil and gas platform to achieve 365 days incident free operations. This was rightly applauded and awarded by the company leadership. With a sharp focus on the human factors and non-technical skills that make a collection of drilling members a team, award winning safety was the outcome.