From Compliance to Commitment: Redefining HSE Metrics Through SIF Prevention Strategies
Authors: Backlund M. , Arpe W. , Bailey K. , Moore J. , Wilson T. , Sizemore B. , Kern S. 
Published: September 2024

Technological innovation, an evolving work environment, and a changing global landscape have rendered the energy industry virtually unrecognizable to what it was fifty years ago. Despite this progress in nearly every aspect, Health Safety Environmental (HSE) reporting remains largely unchanged. Since the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act, Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) has remained the standard key performance indicator (KPI) for HSE success. This paper presents a transformative companywide HSE reporting initiative focusing on prevention of serious injuries or fatalities (SIFs).

Safety incidents in the energy industry require a response informed by severity. For example, the care and resources devoted to responding to a sprain versus exposure to a high-pressure release. To continually demonstrate a company's commitment to employees, the primary focus of an HSE program must be on preventing events leading to life-altering or life-threatening injury or illness, unlike TRIR. Thus, a SIF-based HSE program was developed, identifying SIF incidents via decision tree. Resources were dedicated to investigating root causes, identifying corrective actions, and implementing controls across the organization. Adhering to the key principle of proportional response, these procedures and actions are performed by trained SIF investigators and reviewed by executive leadership.

Following a thorough assessment of potential metrics to enhance safety evaluation, SIF prevention was embraced as a cornerstone HSE program value. In response, KPIs were established to gauge HSE performance more effectively: 1) tracking near misses and potential injury exposures, and 2) monitoring "mitigated events." These KPIs facilitated a deeper understanding of the efficacy of barriers and controls in averting serious incidents and identifying breakdowns in preventative measures.

This strategic shift led to significant enhancements in HSE performance, exemplified by a notable 57% decrease in all SIF Potential incidents over a five-year period and an accompanying 18% reduction in recordable injuries with SIF potential. Additionally, despite a 45% increase in fleet size during a growth phase, the company recorded zero SIF Actual events, marking substantial progress. Concurrently, conventional KPIs improved, with a 9% decline in TRIR following the adoption of the SIF prevention strategy.

As the innovative approach to HSE management matures, the continuous refinement of processes, including tracking, maintaining, and managing corrective and preventive actions, remains paramount. Consequently, the steadfast commitment to eradicating serious injuries and fatalities persists throughout the organization.

In a high-risk environment, it is of utmost importance for a company to actively care for their employees. Focusing on the control and removal of SIF exposures allows the organization to be aligned on what is truly important: employees returning home from work without harm.