Damon joined the group and immediately stepped up as lead for the My Safety Case project. This involved leading and influencing within the RSSWG, Woodside, Diamond Offshore and the original developer of the early tool.

Now Damon is scoping up a trial of the My Safety Case tool (perhaps in hybrid mode with role cards) and developing the preliminary project plan for 2023 – yes, you read that correctly - in 2022, the RSSWG was lucky to have him.

1. Describe the Project for which you won your ‘Best & Fairest’ Award, and your feelings about being recognised for your efforts?   

The project is called ‘My Safety Case’, it’s about bringing to life the commitments we make in the typical 1000+ page  ‘safety case’ regulatory documentation by engaging individuals at the rigsite.   Many of the stated barriers and controls are the responsibility of the rigsite team, yet at a day to day working level there may be areas of limited awareness of these commitments. The pilot aims to create a scalable tool to communicate the controls in a usable and engaging format, highlighting the responsibilities of each rigsite role, and generating engagement.  Also, a feedback process will verify compliance to barriers and gather suggestions for improvements.   We still have a long way to go, and it’s going to need a big team effort from here to get there.   I think there is real tangible value in creating an ‘industry standard’ tool that any titleholder or rig contractor can pick up and use to improve H&S across our operations.

2. In your sphere, what Safer Together product or program do you think contributes the most improving to safety outcomes in our industry, and why?   

The sharing of learnings via face-to-face forums such as the Drilling and Completions Industry Incident Review Panel (DCIIRP) are an absolutely critical part of our industry.  I think it’s really crucial that we continue to raise the profile of these events and increase participation, especially in the context of challenges such as a less experienced workforce post covid, and rationalising the legal aspects to allow free sharing of learnings.  As well as the learning content, the networking aspect and informal safety related discussions at these events add intangible value.

3. On a personal note, if you could live anywhere for a year, where would you live, and why?  

That’s a tough one, I’d probably go to West Sumatra on a boat and try to get really fit by surfing everyday and eating fish and rice and coconuts. Get back to basics, living in a paradise, and try to give something back to the poor local communities there.

4. Do you have anything else you would like to add?  

Thank you for the nomination and wishing everyone a safe and productive 2023.