Can Safety be the Master Measure?

Abstract

One large international cement producer made an assessment of the common characteristics of their plants with the best technical performance. The best performance was defined as plants with consistently high uptimes as well as consistent product quality, low energy consumption, excellent environmental performance and low production costs. On further investigation it was seen that these plants also had the best safety records. The company then investigated further to determine what could be critical factors in this success across all technical platforms and linked closely to safety performance.It was found that the keys to safety excellence and technical performance could be summarized in three critical areas. First, a highly engaged plant management team with clearly stated and widely communicated objectives and with open and transparent communications at all levels. The second factor, was having robust work processes in the plant. The third factor was having highly competent personnel in the key positions critical to success. Reflection would indicate that these factors should not only give excellent technical results, but should also provide for a high regard for safety.