Page 690 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 259

S Martin – 11 August 2011

Positive Intervention and Preventing Conflict

Please see enclosed self explanatory safety newsletter received from ExxonMobil.

We encourage all our teams to address any unsafe behaviour they witness in order to
prevent accidents and maintain a safety culture. However some people can become
abusive or even aggressive when asked to think about the unsafe act they are
undertaking. There are techniques that can be used to reduce the risk of a conflict:

• Never confront someone in front of others; the person may get defensive which
could lead to confrontation or aggression.

• Approach the person in a calm manner, never raise your voice and take them out
of earshot of others.

• Instead of accusing someone of breaking rules or working dangerously, express
concern about their welfare and say that you are worried that they might get hurt.
This is far more likely to be received well.

• If you approach someone in a concerned and caring way, the risk of violence
should be nil - if violence is threatened or the person becomes hostile, back away
and weigh up the risk of the unsafe act against the risk of confrontation.

Risk management is a big step towards accident prevention; however, it is dependent on the risk firstly
being identified, then controlled. We need safety awareness to be instinctive and form an integral part
of both our working and home lives; it is this, in turn, that may save the lives of others. Remember: if
shared, risks can be mitigated before they pose a threat.

If you have any queries regarding the Safety Bulletin content or require further information please
contact any staff member of Xmo Strata Ltd.