Safety made interesting

A culture of safety in the Philippine petroleum industry was the message that fueled Total (Philippines) Corp.’s third "Emergency Response Olympics (ERO)," held recently at Mariveles, Bataan.

Highlighting the importance of accident prevention and effective response in an industry with inherent risks and possible crisis situations, the day-long event gathered major petroleum players at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) in Bataan. The Total-headed ERO had its biggest turn-out yet, with the participation of teams from Pilipinas Shell, Petron Corporation, and PTT, effectively making this year’s affair an industry activity.

"When safety is made interesting, people speak it, think it and live it, (so) everybody wins," said Marco Carlos, Total’s Health, Safety, Environment and Security Officer.

Carlos explains the ERO as a "realistically simulated" contingency preparedness training activity set in a competitive format, meant to expose and educate participants to the possible dangers of operating petroleum facilities, while motivating them to engage in a competitive environment.

According to Anna Whitehouse, Total president and managing director, the safety thrust emphasized in the Emergency Response Olympics embodies the company’s values and its commitment to the safety of its customers and communities in which it is present. "We’re (all) testing ourselves under severe conditions," she said. "With safety preparedness, everyone wins."

The ERO is the exciting result of the company’s Safety Improvement Plan, a campaign initiated in 2002 to improve the management of technological risks as well as significantly reduce the number and seriousness of work-related accidents. In line with all its other business objectives, this strategic priority by Total is observed by top and middle management and extended all the way to operations staff and contractors.

Events such as the ERO also encourage the public to shift its perspective on petroleum companies to a more positive one. Whitehouse said that in the face of rising world oil prices beyond our domestic control, Total continues to make positive contributions to the community by instilling a culture of safety across the industry.