Page 73 - OHS, October 2020

safety audits, maintaining respiratory protection gear, managing stack testing for environmental compliance and so on. Risk of not implementing cross-training is that when older workers retire, you may be left with a void of practical knowledge, and this could lead to greater risk.
In addition, consider the following:
Online training. Partly as a result of COVID-19, there is increasing interest in online training. Of course, this training helps reduce travel and conference cost, but it may lack the rigor of face- to-face meetings. Document the training and be sure to ask your workers’ opinion on the effectiveness of the training sessions.
Plant Operations. Some HSE workers lack an understanding of plant operations. For example, a refinery HSE worker in a refinery may not have working knowledge of crude distillation, or delayed coking, or other similar operations. This understanding, will help improve communication between operations personnel and HSE workers. This understanding could also help improve risk management.
Accurate Records. Ensure HSE manuals, procedures, and compliance records are accurate, updated, and quickly available to workers.
Mergers and Acquisitions
In a turbulent marketplace, mergers and acquisitions tend to be more frequent than those in a placid economy. Mergers (or say divestitures) cause anxiety among workers. Rumors tend to proliferate. Obviously, this puts strain on HSE management. Consider the following:
Maintain Positivity. In divestitures, the increased anxiety of workers could result in distraction and contribute to a greater risk of mishaps or omissions. Workers may get hurt and environmental and industrial hygiene compliance could suffer. An HSE manager has to assume the role of a coach. Despite an environment that could be filled with negativity, the manager has to encourage and inspire them. Obviously, this is, by no means, easy.
Accurate Records. If a company or a plant is being acquired by another company, their due diligence will focus on the HSE infrastructure: HSE manual and its updates, regulatory compliance, training records, and other related documents. Poorly maintained documents or incomplete records could lead to a reduction in the price the company is willing to pay. Beyond that, it simply makes ample sense to have a robust HSE infrastructure.
Due Diligence. If your company is acquiring another company or a plant, your due diligence should include, at least, HSE systems, records on training and regulatory compliance.
To sum up, HSE management today is presented with some formidable challenges as well as unique opportunities.
GC Shah, CSP, CIH, CFSE, PE, is a senior advisor at Wood, Houston, TX. He is involved in Process Safety, Occupational Safety, Fire protection, Environmental engineering/management, and industrial hygiene, and plant engineering/ troubleshooting issues. He has thirty years’ experience and has authored over 80 papers on safety, environmental, plant operations, and HSE management. His contacts: (713-591-5897) ghanshyam.shah@woodplc.com
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