Evolution from Safety Management System (SMS) to HSE MS: Incorporating Health Aspects into the HSE Management System
Authors: de Jong G. 
Published: December 2007

Shell companies have their own separate identity. In this paper the collective expressions 'Shell' and 'Group' and 'Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies' may be used for convenience where reference is made to the companies of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group in general Those expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

There is increasing recognition within the E&P industry that the protection and promotion of the health of people at work is more than taking care of individual health. It is an organisational issue which can be managed using the same principles as for safety and environment. The synergy's with safety and environmental management provide the link with the management system. However line managers need to understand the critical Health issues: what are they? are they relevant? how do we manage them? what are the standards? what are the management tools to be used? how do we monitor performance? what is the role of the line? what is the role of the health advisers? what training and competencies are needed for health management? what are the benefits? These questions have to be clarified before acceptance can be achieved for full integration of Health aspects into the HSE Management System.

Health Risk Assessment was developed as a tool for systematic identification and assessment of health hazards and risks. It specifies the need for and type of controls and recovery measures, which can subsequently be incorporated in the HSE Management System and HSE Cases.

Our experience to date indicates that Health can successfully be integrated in HSE Management Systems and HSE Cases by using the same principles as developed for Safety Management Systems and Safety Cases. There are still many problems which need to be addressed but the methodology used appears to be sound and will eventually enhance line management understanding of the health management aspects relevant to the E&P Industry.

Introduction

HSE Management System. Effective Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Management is more crucial than ever. Legislation is becoming more stringent and public expectations are high. Separate tools and systems for managing Health, Safety and Environmental issues have evolved over the years, but now these need to be integrated into the business in a structured way to provide Company management with the assurance that critical HSE risks are effectively managed and understood by all levels of the work force. This is what a fully implemented HSE Management System provides.

Why the Need for this Initiative? The move towards business integration of HSE matters across the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (from hereon referred to as Shell) began in 1985 with the introduction of Enhanced Safety Management (ESM), followed by the Environmental Management Guidelines (EMG) (issued in 1987, revised 1992) and the Occupational Health Management Guidelines (OHMG) (issued in 1989). These guidelines are issued to Shell companies world-wide with the intention to provide guidance on the implementation of Company HSE policies and programmes. Major accidents, e.g. the Sandoz fire (1987), the Piper Alpha accident (1988) and the EXXON Valdez oil spill (1989) led to an increased awareness within the industry and authorities that more effective Management Systems needed to be in place to avoid major incidents.

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