Protecting Human Safety and Health
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Protecting Human Safety and Health
Developping together a solid safety culture to be shared
Safety Management Systems (SMS)
To strengthen safety in its different units, Total uses Safety Management Systems (SMS) based on organizational principles and best practices recognized by the industry. After defining a safety policy and objectives, the means to implement it are set in motion. Then the results are measured and action plans are adjusted if need be.
These SMS are assessed using third-party experts recognized protocols. At the end of 2009, almost all sites presenting technological risks had their systems approved, in keeping with the objective set (see chart above).
The “safety culture” approach
Since 2005, in order to reinforce the efficiency of SMS and facilitate their ownership by all the parties involved, we have gradually organized an approach designed to strengthen our safety culture, in particular through the "Culture Based Safety" (CSB) program.
The “safety culture” approach promotes the development of a more directive - participative management style based on both management leadership and employee involvement.
In the context of this approach, Total has decided to go even further in developing the CBS program, which is more specific. It is based on a diagnostic of a unit’s safety culture (using a questionnaire on perceptions and employee interviews). The diagnostic provides an assessment of the site's safety culture (in particular its strengths and weaknesses) and allows implementation of appropriate initiatives.
In keeping with our initiatives since 2005, the development of our safety culture is the main thread of the Group’s 2010-2013 Safety Plan.
At the end of 2009, all the Group’s branches had joined this program whose principles are reiterated in the Group’s new Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Charter. 25 entities have adopted this approach, representing 20% of the Group's non-manufacturing businesses. 7,000 completed questionnaires have been used and nearly 1,500 people have been interviewed (including employees of outside firms).
The annual performance review
The annual performance review has been generalized to all business units and sets specific safety objectives. A leaflet has been designed to help managers define safety objectives with their staff.
Preparing for emergencies
View of firemen practicing a safety drill at the Caling Saint-Avolt plant.
Like any international industrial group with operations in more than 130 countries, Total must regularly deal with emergencies. These situations can vary in nature (natural disasters, health crises, industrial accidents, terrorist attacks or security threats for our staff in certain sensitive areas).
In these situations, careful coordination of all the Group's units and rapid mobilization of all its skills are required. Article 7 of the Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Charter provides for the mobilization of means (logistics, coordination, communication, assistance and operational units) and intervention plans in order to cope with different types of emergency situations.
Anticipating emergencies also involves training in crisis management and regular drills and tests to assess and improve our organizations’ capacity to react. In addition to safety drills on our sites, simulations are organized of major crises involving different organizational levels in the Group as a whole, in some cases in cooperation with outside rescue services.
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