Psychological aspects of risk and safety management in the UK offshore oil and gas industry.

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the psychological aspects of risk and safety management in the UK offshore oil and gas industry, however the results have implications for other high hazard industries. This thesis consists of three studies. The first risk perception study aimed to investigate the relative accuracy of offshore workers' risk perceptions and to identify the organisational factors that influence their perceptions. A questionnaire was used to collect risk perceptions, job satisfaction, job situation, attitudes to safety, satisfaction with safety measures and previous accident involvement. Objective risk data (QRA calculations and accident frequency statistics) were obtained from collaborating organisations. The main findings of this study were: Offshore workers’ risk perceptions are relatively accurate. Organisational factors such as perceived management commitment to safety, production versus safety, communication, decision latitude, job satisfaction, working environment and the status of safety measures influence workers’ perception of risk. The first line supervisory level appears to be the tier of management that can have the greatest influence on the factors that influence workers’ perception of risk and feelings of safety. The two supervisor studies aimed to establish if supervisors influenced their subordinates’ level of safety through their commitment to safety, management style, their safety attitudes and behaviour and the ability to demonstrate these attributes to their subordinates. The initial supervisor study used a qualitative interview technique to investigate supervisors’ management of safety, in order to identify the factors that separated effective from less effective supervisors. Supervisors were classified as effective or less effective on the basis of their subordinates’ self reported risk taking behaviour and superior ratings. Supervisors do appear to influence their subordinates’ level of safety. Significant differences between effective supervisors and less effective supervisors were identified including Valuing subordinates; Awareness of subordinates feelings; Frequency of visiting worksite; Motivation for visiting the worksite; Work group participation; Abdication of responsibility for subordinates safety; Pressure to get the job done: focus on production; Safety communication. The third study used a self-completion questionnaire method in an attempt to replicate the above results. The combined findings of the two supervisors study were: Supervisors do influence their subordinates’ level of safety. Four attributes that influenced the effectiveness of supervisory safety management skills were identified. These were: Valuing subordinates; Visiting the worksite frequently; Workgroup participation and Safety communication.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Robert Gordon University

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Fleming, Mark T.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• R. Flin

• Offshore oil and gas industry
• Risk and safety management
• Workers risk perception
• Supervisor influence
• Workgroup participation
• Safety communication

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:rgu-repository.worktribe.com:2807383
https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2807383

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rgu-repository.worktribe.com:2807383