A guide to Step Change in Safety

what you need to know

What is Step Change in Safety?

We are a unique industry gr oup established with the goal of making the UK the
safest place to work in the worldwide oil and gas industry through:

• Listening to and engaging with the workforce on key safety issues and barriers
preventing improved health and safety performance

• The identification, sharing and adoption of best practice

• Companies working together to tackle common industry safety issues

The Step Change vision:

“Making the UK the safest place to work in the worldwide oil and gas industry”

What Step Change in Safety does:

• Listens and responds to health and safety issues and concerns raised either by
individuals or organisations

• Helps the industry share safety information so that we can learn from past
incidents

• Finds solutions to common industry safety issues and barriers to improve safety
performance

• Through the use of workgroups, develops practical solutions that have industry
wide application

• Publishes guidance, recommendations and information that will help improve

health and safety in the oil and gas industry
The current Step Change approach:

Our approach to achieving the vision is summarised in a simple diagram, commonly

referred to as the “temple model”. This temple model clearly shows the three main
areas of focus – the pillars: Recognise Hazards and Reduce Risk; Personal Ownership
for Safety and Asset Integrity, which all depend upon a strong foundation of good
Leadership, Communication, Cooperation and Ownership and Involvement at all
Levels. Everything we do either fits into one of the pillars or the temple’s foundations.

The temple model

Making the UK the

safest place to work in the
worldwide oil and gas industry

Personal
Recognise Asset Integrity
Ownership for
Hazard and Safety
Reduce Risk
Making safety
personal by Maintaining
Identifying, demonstrating hardware to be
understanding commitment and safe, reliable
and dealing with competence and efficient
hazards throughout the
organisation

Ownership and Involvement at all levels

Leadership Communication Cooperation
How Step Change operates

The Step Change Leadership Team:

Step Change in Safety is led by a leadership team of senior managers and officials
from partner companies, trade associations, trade unions and the Health and Safety
Executive. One of the leadership team’s functions is to listen to and account for
the views of the workforce when planning Step Change in Safety activities.

Company Focal Point:

Our member companies are required to appoint a Step Change Focal Point. They
act as the main communication link between their organisation’s senior management,
its workforce and Step Change in Safety. You can find the name of your company’s
Focal Point by going to the Step Change in Safety website.

Step Change Networks:

We engage with the workforce through the Step Change Networks and Workgroups.
There are two key networks:
• Site Leaders (offshore and onshore managers and supervisors)
• Elected Safety Representatives
Network meetings provide representatives of the workforce with an opportunity to
network with colleagues and to comment on health and safety issues facing the
industry.

Step Change Workgroups:

The workgroups are the main method by which we identify and share best practice
typically through the development of common standards (e.g. training standards,
Vantage POB) and the publication of best practice (e.g. task risk assessment
guidelines).
The workgroup topics are determined by the current health and safety issues facing
our industry.
The workgroups are made up of members of the Step Change Leadership Team,
Step Change networks and, wher e appr opriate, technical specialists. Br oad
representation on the workgroups ensures the views of the workforce are heard.
Step Change Support Team:

The Step Change support team is the first point of contact for all Step Change in
Safety matters. It helps plan, co-ordinate, facilitate and promote Step Change in
Safety activities as well as being r esponsible for day-to-day communications as
required, and the maintenance of the Step Change in Safety website.

The team can be contacted by e-mail on info@stepchangeinsafety.net or by phone

on 01224 577268.

Step Change operating structure

STEP CHANGE
IN SAFETY

WORKFORCE
WORKGROUPS
NETWORKS

COMMUNICATION
SHARING
Identify issues Guidance
INFORMATION
Identify and share Standards
best practice Best practice
Connecting with the
broader workforce

WORKFORCE COMPANY
How can I get involved?

Anybody can keep up to date with our activities through the Step Change in Safety
website. Through the website you can access the following:
• Latest news and information

• Incident database

• Discussion forum

• Publications and best practice

Elected Safety Representatives and Site Leaders can get involved by:

• Attending the Elected Safety Representatives or Site Leaders network meetings

• Participating in a Step Change in Safety workgroup

If you would like to raise issues through Step Change in Safety, please contact
your Elected Safety Representative.

www.stepchangeinsafety.net