Red Alert Program in Drilling Rigs: A Strong Decision to Show Leadership and to Involve Work Force Towards Zero Serious or Fatal Incidents

Abstract

Abstract It is usual in the industry for a process to be reevaluated whenever the expected quality of the final product is out of the specification. In Petróleo Brasileiro SA - PETROBRAS, E&P quality evaluation of the drilled wells, considered as a product, takes into account the total number of lost time incidents and injuries severity. Since 2006, as a result of the discovery of new oil and gas fields in the Brazilian coast, mainly after the discovery of the so called "pre-salt" giant fields, the oil companies operating in Brazil initiated arrangements to handle the magnitude of the expected labor demand. The search for qualified workers grew up in 2007 until reaching the point of scarcity. The lack of seasoned workers led the companies to hire and train rookies to face level 4 risk activities. The total number of lost time incidents was on a downward trend until 2006 and reverted, exceeding the expected limits in 2008, much higher than in the previous years. Besides, in 2008 occurred three fatal accidents. These numbers were considered borderline by the Petrobras managers and concerning this scenario; they developed the "Red Alert" program. The Floating Drilling Rigs Fleet stopped operations for 24 hours to undertake safety, risk perception, management of changes and hazard hunting activities. The Red Alert day started with the projection of a video by Petrobras E&P Director and contractors CEOs addressing the safety issues to the workforce. Workshops and meetings were held with each rig crew in order to explain why to stop, to share downtime costs, to present the 2008 fatalities analysis and to review the learned lessons. Around 34 drilling units from 9 contractors, 3 Brazilian and 6 foreigners totaling 7,500 people, were involved at a cost of US$7 Million. Other activities were scheduled to take place onshore such as workshops and weekly visits of the leaders to the rigs. As a result of this program, the severity of lost time incidents was reduced. Seeds for behavior change are being scattered, creating the tools for Petrobras and partners workforces effective learning towards a safer future, fostering the belief in leadership by example.