Controlling and managing risk is the basis for all HSE work. Our results reflect the way we have worked systematically over many years to improve the working environment.
In-house requirements, national and international standards and the regulatory authorities make specific demands for the physical working environment and control of risk.
An important management principle is that risk must be assessed and reduced as far as practicable, even though relevant technical standards for such aspects as noise levels and pollution of the working atmosphere may have been met.
This means that we carry out evaluations together with users when planning workplaces and plants, and perform studies or analyses to check whether burdens or exposure can be reduced. That also applies in relation to traditional and established solutions.
Our goals for health and the working environment are that we will:
- achieve security, workplace health promotion, trust, collaboration and improvements
- avoid undesirable loads, injuries, and occupational illnesses and fatalities
- have clear targets and requirements for the way we work to achieve these goals.
During the operations phase, we carry out studies of the working environment and work processes to assess whether risk can be reduced by making changes to technology, organising the work differently, providing worker training or improving their protection.
Clear priorities are set for risk reduction when a hazard has been identified:
- removing the hazard through design or technology changes, or by converting to less hazardous chemicals
- controlling the hazard through technological solutions, such as a closed system
- controlling the hazard through organisational measures or changing work processes
- controlling the hazard through protective measures or equipment - this represents the final option or is used as a last barrier.
Evaluations and analyses based on Norway's Norsok standards are carried out in the design phase, with working environment surveys and our own tools deployed during operation to assess chemicals, noise, ergonomics and psychosocial conditions.
We perform evaluations and measurements to assess whether our risk-reduction measures are effective, and also follow up in such a way that possible residual risk is controlled.
