The role of safety culture in establishing an effective safety information system in the oil and gas industry. A case study of an onshore facility

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to contribute to understanding of how safety culture affects the performance of safety information systems (SISs). More particularly, to investigate how safety culture can both facilitate and inhibit a SIS to function effectively.

The thesis has been carried out as a qualitative, single case study of an onshore facility in the oil and gas industry. Seven semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted. Informants included employees from the operational, line-management and management level. In addition, textual analysis of internal management system documents was used.

Analysis has revealed that safety culture both facilitates and inhibits performance of a SIS. The facility has implemented multiple organizational measures directed at safety that together influences the development of safety culture. This safety culture further affects performance of the established SIS. Facilitating factors to several of the SIS’ phases were: personal reporting in combination with a mutual established trust between the management and operative personnel. In addition, there is an established practice of asking the operative personnel follow-up questions related to reported incidents, which enhances the understanding and accuracy of conducted risk analysis in the system. At last, there is a continuous monitoring of incoming reports in the SIS, seeking to avoid particularly personnel injuries and facilitating response time.

However, several inhibiting factors have also been identified: there is a strong belief that under-reporting is happening with the facility, which potentially inhibits the performance of the whole SIS. There is also a need to use the operative personnel’s expertise more in cases when they possess the best knowledge. In addition, the multiple workshops within the facility know little about each other’s preventive work. At present, lack of experience transfer internally inhibits performance of the SIS.

The facility is moving towards having an effective SIS. However, there needs to be continuous improvement, starting by acting upon the identified inhibiting factors. Overall, a basis has been already established. The future is about developing the safety culture further.