Safety at the Core
Aramco celebrates one of its core values on World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Contractor safety, visible safety leadership, stakeholder engagement, and innovation among the key areas of emphasis.
Safety is one of Aramco’s core values, and we are continuously seeking new and innovative ways to improve the safety and well-being of our people. In recognition of annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work (April 28), we take a look at some of our key areas of focus.
Visible safety leadership
At Aramco, our enduring belief is that safety begins at the top. This is underlined by our Sustainability, Risk, and Health, Safety and Environment Board Committee, which is tasked with assessing the company’s exposure to health and safety risks, while also providing strategic direction to manage potential risk exposure.
Upholding this same belief is our Corporate Health, Safety, Security and Environment Committee, which maintains the necessary safety oversight to continuously drive improvement through all levels of management by providing strategic guidance on policies, and monitoring corporate safety performance.
In addition, the company’s Loss Prevention (LP) organization plays a key role through actions such as its oversight of all corporate safety policies, around the clock field support, and ensuring that our Safety Management System is implemented effectively.
Stakeholder engagement
Proactive stakeholder engagement is a key pillar in continuing to build a culture of safety excellence. From ensuring that emergency management coordinators are present in all facilities, to delivering hundreds of safety workshops to tens of thousands of employees and contractors each year, our focus remains steadfast.
Innovation and safety
From the launch of customized real-time journey technology such as our SafeTravel app, to the establishment of a Big Data Analytics Program aimed at identifying high value safety data, we are constantly seeking new ways to make our business safer.
Contractor safety
Aramco has one of the world’s largest contractor workforces, and with this comes the responsibility of ensuring that every individual returns home safely each day.
We implement a contractor safety strategy comprised of four foundational elements: improving engagement and communication; providing in-depth assessments; providing credible safety performance metrics; and evaluating governing processes and procedures when selecting contractors to ensure their safety competency.
We partner with our contractors, and dedicated teams provide technical analysis and support to enhance contractor safety performance, while a comprehensive Contractor Injury Reporting System allows contractors to report injury and incident data in real-time, allowing valuable insight into any safety issues.
Challenges remain
While we have come a long way in improving safety for our people, our journey is never-ending. As we celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we are reminded that while markets fluctuate, business practices evolve, and technologies advance, the one constant is our commitment to safety.
At Aramco, our commitment to a safe workplace underpins every facet of our business. We are proud that year after year we continue to improve in key areas. However, we are also mindful that safety is a journey that never ends and it is important that we remain vigilant.
— Ghassan G. Abulfaraj, vice president and chief LP engineer
Ibrahim A. Khawaji, director of the LP Technical Services Department, adds: “This occasion provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the importance of safety management, while also allowing us to maintain our focus on becoming the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals producer, and striving for a workplace free from injuries and fatalities.”
Caption for top photo: A worker examines the proper PPE for use in a work area.