Safety awards stimulate creativity

Seven companies from QP’s joint ventures and contractors have won awards in the second edition of the Qatar Oil & Gas Industry Safety Excellence and Innovation Awards. The awards were distributed by HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, also the chairman and managing director of Qatar Petroleum at the Ritz Carlton yesterday. Initiated under the guidance of al-Sada, the Safety Excellence and Innovation Awards primarily aim to recognise outstanding safety programmes and initiatives being implemented in the oil and gas industry and promote continual improvement in the safety performance of oil and gas companies as well as the sharing of best practices. “We cannot be complacent with the way we manage the HSE risks associated with our industry,” al-Sada said in his address, as he emphasised the important role of leadership in driving the continual improvement process. “There is a common element that can be found in all the award-winning submissions over the past two years - that is, the very clear and visible involvement of senior management. It goes a long way in bringing about any real successful safety improvement initiatives. “The awards are a manifestation of the vision of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani who envisaged Qatar as a vibrant and prosperous country in which there is economic and social justice for all, and in which nature and man are in harmony,” the minister said. “It is therefore very important that we manage Qatar’s bountiful hydrocarbon resources with great responsibility so that it is sustained for generations to come. This award stimulates and promotes the creative and continued improvement of HSE management in the industry. It is a symbol of recognition of the companies and organisations in the industry whose projects, initiatives and programmes demonstrate exceptional improvements in behaviour, procedures, plant operations, safety standards and overall risk reduction and motivation of the workforce.” The development of capable and motivated workforce is one of the prime objectives of the National Development Strategy 2011-2016 guided by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. This helps to reinforce the occupational health and safety of workers by protecting them from work-place hazards. Al-Sada said: “It is heartening to note that our industry has enthusiastically embraced the concept of safety excellence. In the last year’s inaugural presentation ceremony we had some 12 participants.  This year, this number has grown to 21. “Not only did we see a 75% increase in the number of participating companies, we also witnessed a big improvement in the quality of the submissions. This year the judging panel had a difficult task to select the top three in each category. I commend the judges for the diligent and transparent manner in which they have conducted the evaluation exercise. Keeping up with this trend, next year’s task of selecting the winners is going to be even more challenging.” From gulftimes