Managing Safety to Achieve Operating Excellence
Authors: Prihandoko Tursilo , Mahan Stephen , Nurdin M. , Bourhanuddin Mirza 
Published: October 2009

This paper covers how ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc. (EMOI) manages safety for employee and contract personnel.

Maintaining a safe and incident-free workplace is a critical element in managing ExxonMobil's operations. Safety excellence is a prime driver for success in all aspects of business activities. Outstanding safety results, such as exhibited by EMOI operations, are consistently achieved by being committed to a disciplined and consistent approach in managing personnel safety. The implementation and sustainment of a series of integrity management systems that address all areas of business is the guide to EMOI's success.

A critical element in safety management is the commitment by all members of the workforce – not just by managers and supervisors – to an incident-free workplace. Introduction of programs that encourage, recognize and reward personnel for their active participation in safety programs and identified safety initiatives are critical for office and operational personnel to be successful in maintaining outstanding safety performance. Conducting regularly scheduled work group safety meetings that encourage employee input, performing risk assessments, project management processes, well written and understood operating and maintenance procedures, facility and process information and documentation, personnel training, management of change, structured incident reporting and investigation, and effective emergency response procedures and plans are also essential components to achieving a work place where "Nobody Gets Hurt".

EMOI is committed to the sustained implementation of a behavior-based safety process in its operations. The Loss Prevention System™ (LPS) has become an integral part of daily work activities. LPS is a system to minimize losses using behavior-based tools and proven management techniques. Positive results in safety performance are achieved by influencing the workforce to avoid at-risk behaviors and encourage safe work practices. A focus on the utilization of proven safety tools continues to be a key to the reduction of workplace incidents. Near Miss/Hazard Reporting, Job Safety Analysis and Safe Performance Self-Assessment™ (SPSA) have been an important part of EMOI's safety program for several years. In early 2008, Loss Prevention Observations™ (LPO) was implemented in EMOI. This process includes task observation and applies to both EMOI and contract personnel. The objective of this process is to provide positive reinforcement for behaviors that are correct and consistent with EMOI work standards, constructively identifies and eliminates deviations from work standards, and effectively change behaviors to achieve loss-free operations. The resulting information from the observations is collected, trends identified, and focus areas shared with the workforce. Sharing lessons learned from others is also key to identifying areas of potential improvement in safety performance. Safety alerts from other ExxonMobil operations as well as industry are shared with the workforce.

A collection of leading and lagging indicators are used to measure and communicate safety performance. Leading indicators include number of near miss reports, U-See U-Act, hazards hunts, security incidents, LPO questionable items, and Safety inspections. Lagging indicators are typically incident counts, categorized by lost time, non-lost time, illness, first aid, and motor vehicle. Contractor personnel make up over 70 % of EMOI's workforce and they, too, achieving great strides in safety performance. This is being accomplished by expecting the same demonstrated commitment and use of proven processes as those used by ExxonMobil personnel. EMOI conducts annual Contractor Management Safety Workshops with the objective being to emphasize ExxonMobil's safety expectations and seek a shared commitment with contractor management to meeting those expectations. Emphasis on the need for strong demonstrated leadership by managers and supervisors was also addressed. In the workshop, safe work practices and processes used both by ExxonMobil and contract companies were also shared.

The success EMOI has achieved has been recognized by ExxonMobil Production Company as recipient of the President's Safety Award three of the past four years. Although this is a record to be very proud of, past success does not guarantee the future. It takes a commitment from everyone and the continuous improvement of proven safety tools and processes to maintain this success.