(32d) Evolving a Corporate KPC HSE Management System

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) is committed to balancing the professional and optimal exploitation of Kuwait's hydrocarbon resources, the proactive management of the health and safety of our employees, contractors and the community, and the protection of the environment. We believe that good HSE performance is an essential and integral part of efficient and profitable business. Regrettably during 2000 ? 2002, there were two major accidents in the KPC Oil Sector, which resulted in major explosions and fires. We also had two other safety incidents during maintenance. These four incidents resulted in the tragic loss of life. The two major explosions resulted in asset and business losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars (US). The challenge was how to learn from these tragic accidents and to dedicate the resources needed to avoid them in future. Toward that end, in 2002, KPC adopted a mission statement that included the goal of becoming the regional leader in HSE Performance. This necessitated the implementation of an improved HSA management system (MS). This paper presents important aspects of that journey, including: the lessons learned from the incidents, the key elements of the design of the improved KPC HSE MS, the organization, objectives, and responsibilities of the HSE Committees, the training program developed and implemented, the 'Signposting' process, the implementation of the MS within KPC and its subsidiaries, the auditing protocol to track progress,and the efforts to ensure continual improvement. With the implementation of the HSE MS at KPC and at its subsidiaries it is hoped that a drastic reduction in the number and in the severity of injuries and incidents will occur as KPC continuously pursues world-class HSE Performance.