Developing a leader accountabilities agreement

To define leadership accountabilities better within an E&P technology department, a 4-member team developed an ‘Accountabilities Agreement’. The multi-functional team reviewed existing company policies/procedures and regulatory requirements and compiled all leadership accountabilities on one page. The document was then reviewed and approved by the safety and health committee.

The team then developed an implementation programme for team leaders. A manual was developed with excerpts from company policies, procedures, HSE manuals and communications to support or provide additional information on the leadership accountabilities. Team leaders attended a training session sponsored by the company leader and each team leader signed an agreement. The accountabilities are incorporated into each leader’s performance review with a specific objective related to their operations

Benefits

• All team leaders, as well as employees, were able to articulate an HSE related objective for their performance review
• Team leaders became visibly more active in HSE issues such as reporting, investigating and follow up on incidents
• Active/timely follow up on reported HSE hazards
• Increased visible support of HSE issues from leadership
• Increased awareness of HSE issues specifically related to job function
• Ownership of HSE issues and processes
• Increased leadership in areas outside those defined on the accountabilities agreement.

Lessons learned

• Use a cross-organisational team, including representatives from leadership, which promotes employee ownership
• Rely on existing policies, procedures, etc. for information when compiling the accountabilities and training material
• Use all members of the team to present the material to the leadership ranks (not only the HSE professional)
• Keep it simple–the document is a one page agreement and the guidance manual consists of copies of excerpts from existing HSE sources.