Occupational Health And Safety
- DID TALISMAN EXPERIENCE ANY FATALITIES OR LIFETHREATENING OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2005?
- No, there were no fatalities or life-threatening occupational injuries at Talisman-operated sites in 2005. Notwithstanding that outcome, Talisman experienced several incidents at its operations during the year. These included dropped object incidents, material transfer incidents, an outbreak of E. coli at an offshore installation, a hydrogen sulphide exposure incident, and several fires. The Company takes these incidents very seriously. All such incidents are reported and thoroughly investigated so that the associated learnings are captured as a basis for improving our safety management systems and preventing reoccurrence. Sadly, three contractors to Talisman suffered fatal injuries so far in 2006.
At Talisman, we strive to create a working environment where accidents do not occur and in which employees, contractors and the public are not exposed to health and safety hazards. Where we have operating control, we have developed and implemented written standards, practices and plans to communicate Talisman's expectations and guide our operational safety and loss control activities.
Safety Leadership in North America
In January 2005, Talisman joined more than 200 oil and gas companies in Safety Stand Down Week in Western Canada to increase face-to-face dialogue on safety between senior management and front-line workers at the jobsite. See www.safetystanddown.ca for more information. Talisman also became a member of the new CAPP National Safety Leadership Team, which seeks to identify and implement substantial improvements in safety performance within the Canadian upstream oil and gas industry.
Improving Health and Safety Performance in North America
Talisman continued to seek ways of improving its safety performance and the level of engagement on safety and loss control in 2005. The Company provided new behaviour-focused safety leadership training for line supervisors in Edson and Grande Prairie, Alberta in 2005 to support sustainable improvement in safety and loss control performance in our field operations. Training in hazard assessment, safe work permitting, task observation and root cause analysis continued across our North American operations. Talisman also worked proactively with several drilling contractors to test rig worker exposure to airborne hydrocarbons on drilling rigs using invert mud systems. Testing confirmed that exposure levels were well within acceptable occupational exposure limits.
Promoting Workplace Health Globally
Talisman encourages its employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle and offers programs and initiatives to support their efforts in this regard. Workplace health promotion activities in North American operations included blood pressure clinics and employee lunch-and-learn sessions covering such topics as stress management, office ergonomics, dietary and nutritional issues, hand care and seasonal influenza. Health promotion activities in the UK included eye care, cardio-vascular fitness, smoking cessation, blood donation, asthma awareness and annual health assessments, which rated individual employee health based on a set of criteria. Information sessions on nutrition were also provided. In Malaysia, health promotion activities included employee sessions regarding avian influenza and personal wellness strategies.
Leading Safely
Talisman (UK) completed six "Leading Safely" courses designed to help first-line supervisors lead and motivate their teams to achieve high performance in all aspects of operations and in particular, those that involve health, safety and the environment. The four-day course improves understanding and skills in dealing with such topics as leadership, teamwork and motivation. Seven courses will be held in 2006.
Hand Safe Program Launched in the United Kingdom
Talisman (UK) initiated a three-month safety campaign targeting the prevention of hand and finger injuries across the North Sea operations. The Hand Safe Program is delivered to employees by volunteer "champions" in each operating site to help elevate awareness and mitigate hand and finger injuries, which account for 25% of the injuries reported in the Talisman (UK) operations.
Automated Work Permitting System
Talisman (UK) introduced a web-based system called ISSOW (Integrated Safe Systems of Work) at its Flotta, Piper, Clyde, Buchan, Claymore and Saltire installations, which automates work permitting, task risk assessment and isolation control processes. Training commenced in 2005 and phased implementation is underway across the remaining North Sea operating sites in 2006.
Improving Safety Culture in Southeast Asia
Talisman trained its PM-3 CAA workforce in safe work permitting procedures and emergency response and participated in a comprehensive emergency response exercise involving employees, government agencies and service providers. Talisman also completed annual wellsite, facility and heavy equipment safety inspections at its Indonesian operations. Safety performance improvement workshops were also held with key fabrication contractors and subcontractors working on the project.