Shell shifts into safety gear
MANILA, Philippines - Promoting the importance of safety to its employees and their families, Shell companies in the Philippines (Shell) conducted various activities that not only raised awareness but also provided an opportunity to remind everyone that safety, whether at home, at work or on the road, is non-negotiable.
Safety is also a core value embraced by all Shell companies around the world. People who work for Shell drive more than 1.3 billion kilometers a year to deliver fuel and other products. They build new plants in extreme conditions, work on remote offshore platforms, or run refineries and chemical plants. Thus, keeping people safe is a top priority, with the aim of Goal Zero, i.e. having zero fatalities and incidents that harm its employees, contractors or neighbors, or put its facilities at risk.
Putting a premium on health, safety, security and the environment (HSSE), Shell ensures that a collective commitment to HSSE is in place. Every year, Shell celebrates Safety Day globally, with the purpose of bringing all employees and contractors together to engage and focus on safety.
This year’s Safety Day theme is “Do the Right Thing,” which highlights how the decisions each person makes at work impact overall safety. It is a reminder that the company’s safety performance depends on each individual’s choosing to “do the right thing” all the time.
Safety Day, however, is not just a one-day event. Edgar Chua, country chairman of Shell companies in the Philippines, says, “Every day should be Safety Day where we aim to build a stronger safety culture in pursuit of Goal Zero.”
A highlight of the Safety Day celebration is the Safety Day Awards, where employees who have shown exemplary performance and commitment to safety — ranging from conducting safety trainings to quick emergency response to more efficient ways of operating —
were recognized.
Other HSSE-related activities include short talks, activity booths, participatory discussions, school clean drives, and bloodletting events in various worksites across the country.
Emphasizing the importance of health, some activities focused on well-being, engaging employees in short talks regarding fitness, nutrition and first aid.
Committed to environmental responsibility, Safety Day activities also included tree-planting activities and shore cleanup activities in different parts of the country.
Road safety was also given emphasis during Safety Day, in view of the increasing incidence of road accidents. To raise awareness on road safety, trainings on safe driving and proper road behavior were conducted.
Working with others is key to Shell’s relentless pursuit of Goal Zero. Shell’s network of gasoline station dealers partnered with the Philippine National Police in securing gasoline stations and to prevent crime in these areas.
To further reinforce the safety culture among Shell staff, this year’s Safety Day celebration included a personal commitment signing activity and sharing of testimonies on how each could contribute to promoting safety in his personal and professional life. Chua encourages all members of the Shell organization “to continue sharing best practices and putting it to use so that we can achieve Goal Zero every year.”
Promoting safety and the pursuit of Goal Zero is a continuing challenge. Safety Day is a great opportunity to remind everyone to remain ever vigilant on safety, especially because lives are stake. Through partnerships and investment in best practices, Shell aims to maximize opportunities to help Filipinos create a safer, accident-free environment.
