PETE 1025 · Behavioural Safety in Oil & Gas

Led by Senior HSE Engineer Simulacrum

Behavioural safety in oil and gas from the ABC behavioural model and human factors through fire hazards, prevention, detection and response, safety culture, communication, regulatory compliance, risk assessment, training, and continuous improvement.

1. Module 1

   Behavioural Safety Fundamentals and Human Factors

   Led by Senior HSE Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   Between the procedure and the action stands a human being who may be fatigued, distracted, or overconfident. This module covers the ABC model of behaviour (why consequences drive future behaviour more than antecedents), five common at-risk behaviours in oil and gas (PPE non-compliance, interlock bypass, PTW shortcuts, confined space shortcuts, normalisation of deviance), five human factors (fatigue, complacency, distraction, stress, cognitive bias), the Heinrich triangle linking at-risk behaviours to serious events, leading vs. lagging safety indicators, and building a safety-first mindset through ownership and stop-work authority.

   Outcome

   The student can apply the ABC model, identify at-risk behaviours, describe five human factors, explain the Heinrich triangle, and distinguish leading from lagging indicators. (Behavioural safety fundamentals)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 1.1 The ABC Model: Antecedent, Behaviour, and Consequence Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 1.2 Common At-Risk Behaviours and Normalisation of Deviance Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 1.3 Human Factors: Fatigue, Complacency, and Cognitive Bias Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 1.4 The Heinrich Triangle and Leading vs. Lagging Indicators Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 1.5 Building a Safety-First Mindset: Ownership and Accountability Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Begin the course → Print certificate of completion
2. Module 2

   Fire Hazards, Prevention, and Detection in Oil and Gas

   Led by Senior HSE Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   Fire is the most feared hazard — and the products are flammable by nature. This module covers the fire triangle and five fire types (pool, jet, flash, VCE, BLEVE — each with a different mechanism and response), five ignition source controls (hot work permits, electrical area classification Zones 0/1/2, static grounding, hot surface insulation, lightning protection), four fire detection technologies (gas, flame UV/IR, heat, smoke), fire prevention systems (firewater deluge, foam, dry chemical, passive fire protection), and the fire alarm, PA, and muster systems.

   Outcome

   The student can describe five fire types, describe five ignition controls, describe four detection technologies, describe firewater/foam/PFP systems, and describe the alarm and muster procedure. (Fire hazards, prevention, and detection)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 2.1 The Fire Triangle and Fire Types in Oil and Gas Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 2.2 Ignition Source Control: Hot Work, Area Classification, and Static Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 2.3 Fire Detection: Gas, Flame, Heat, and Smoke Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 2.4 Fire Prevention Systems: Firewater, Foam, and Passive Protection Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 2.5 Fire Alarm, Communication, and Muster Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
3. Module 3

   Fire Response, Flammable Material Handling, and Emergency Procedures

   Led by Senior HSE Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   The wrong response to a fire can be worse than no response — applying water to a pool fire spreads it, extinguishing a gas jet without isolating the fuel creates an explosive cloud. This module covers the correct response for each fire type, the SDS and key flammable material properties (flash point, autoignition temperature, LEL/UEL), safe storage and transfer practices (grounding, controlled flow, EIV accessibility), evacuation vs. shelter-in-place decision criteria, and portable fire extinguisher selection by fire class with the PASS technique.

   Outcome

   The student can describe the correct response for each fire type, define flash point and explosive limits, describe safe storage and transfer, explain the evacuation vs. shelter decision, and match extinguisher types to fire classes. (Fire response and emergency procedures)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 3.1 Fire Response: Pool, Jet, Flash, VCE, and BLEVE Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 3.2 Flammable Material Handling: SDS, Flash Point, and Explosive Limits Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 3.3 Safe Storage and Transfer of Flammable Materials Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 3.4 Evacuation Procedures and Shelter-in-Place Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 3.5 Fire Extinguisher Selection and Use Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
4. Module 4

   Safety Culture, Communication, and Regulatory Compliance

   Led by Senior HSE Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   A facility with excellent technical systems and poor safety culture will eventually have a major incident. This module covers the Bradley Curve maturity model (reactive through interdependent), the Hearts and Minds diagnostic, three safety communication methods (toolbox talk, safety observation with coaching, safety meeting), the near-miss reporting system (easy, non-punitive, closed-loop), the OSHA and HSE regulatory frameworks with four enforcement actions, and safety leadership — the five behaviours that build culture (visible presence, safety-first agenda, recognition, system accountability, open-door reporting).

   Outcome

   The student can describe the Bradley Curve stages, describe three communication methods, describe the near-miss reporting requirements, explain the regulatory audit, and describe five leadership behaviours. (Safety culture, communication, and compliance)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 4.1 Safety Culture: The Bradley Curve and Maturity Models Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 4.2 Safety Communication: Toolbox Talks, Observations, and Meetings Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 4.3 Near-Miss Reporting and Organisational Learning Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 4.4 Regulatory Framework and Compliance Auditing Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 4.5 Safety Leadership: Walking the Talk Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
5. Module 5

   Risk Assessment, Training, and Continuous Improvement

   Led by Senior HSE Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   Behavioural safety is a continuous improvement cycle — the risk assessment identifies hazards, training equips the workforce, the observation programme measures behaviour, and the review cycle adjusts the programme. This module covers the JSA and the hierarchy of controls (elimination through PPE), the training needs analysis and competency assessment (practical demonstration, not just attendance), the behavioural safety observation programme (observe, record, coach — tracked by the safe behaviour index), continuous improvement (monthly review, annual management review, IOGP benchmarking), and three case studies — Texas City, Piper Alpha, and Deepwater Horizon — analysed for behavioural and cultural failures.

   Outcome

   The student can conduct a JSA, apply the hierarchy of controls, describe the TNA and competency assessment, describe the observation programme, and identify the behavioural failure in each case study. (Risk assessment, training, and continuous improvement)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 5.1 Job Safety Analysis and the Hierarchy of Controls Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 5.2 Safety Training: Needs Analysis, Delivery, and Competency Assessment Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 5.3 The Behavioural Safety Observation Programme Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 5.4 Continuous Improvement: Review, Benchmarking, and Action Planning Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 5.5 Case Studies: Behavioural Failures in Major Incidents Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion