The HSE Management System in Practice-Implementation

Abstract This paper sets out the necessary strategic issues that must be dealt with when setting up a management system for HSE. It touches on the setting of objectives using a form of risk matrix and the establishment of corporate risk tolerability levels. Such issue management is vital but can be seen as yet another corporate HQ initiative. It must therefore be linked and made relevant to those in middle management tasked with implementing the system and also to those at risk 'at the sharp end' of the business. Setting acceptance criteria is aimed at demonstrating a necessary and sufficient level of control or coverage for those hazards considered as being within the objective setting of the Safety or HSE Case. Critical risk areas addressed via the Safety Case, within Shell companies at least, must show how this coverage is extended to critical health and environmental issues. Methods of achieving this are various ranging from specific Case deliverables (like the Hazard Register and Accountability Matrices) through to the incorporation of topics from the hazard analysis in toolbox talks and meetings. Risk analysis techniques are increasingly seen as complementary rather than separate with environmental assessments, health risk assessment sand safety risk analyses taking place together and results being considered jointly. The paper ends with some views on the way ahead regarding the linking of risk decisions to target setting at the workplace and views on how Case information may be retrieved and used on a daily basis.