Interview with Guido Montanari – Head of Safety

Can you explain how Eni evaluates risks related to the safety of people and of production  sites?

I'd like to start by defining what we mean by risk: risk is a mathematical quantity linked to an intuitive concept, that of danger, which in turn can result from the actions of people, things and the environment; risk, therefore, is the product of the relationship between the probability of a hazardous event and the magnitude of its consequences.
Risk analysis, meanwhile, is the discipline that provides methods, techniques and measurement tools to identify the dangers, their probability of occurrence and the gravity of their consequences.
A fundamental element in the analysis is, therefore, the identification of hazards, which can be done by experts with sophisticated systems, but which is substantially more effective with the proactive input of experienced, aware and attentive workers who can help technicians with information and experience.
Today at Eni risk analysis is a widely used tool, not only for demonstrating within the framework of an integrated HSE management system that all necessary measures have been implemented for risk management purposes, but also to check the effectiveness of design and the organization of work.
Risk analysis is carried out not only in conformity with current legislation and international standards; for every new plant safety risk analysis is an essential part of all the design stages; for the plants already in operation, it is carried out at any significant process or equipment modification.
In addition, in order to update and harmonise at the highest possible level the risk analysis methodologies and techniques, a discipline that has in Saipem Snamprogetti a centre of excellence, important documents and manuals, such as the recent Eni Technical Handbooks of Risk Analysis are developed by risk analysis experts.
Risk analysis, consequently, makes it possible to put in place initiatives for the reduction of risk i.e. of all those plant or operational improvements that can reduce the probability of a hazardous event occurring as well as its consequences.

Can you give us a practical example of how all this works at Eni?

Take, for example, a hydrocarbon fractionation column at one of our sites. Inside the column products reach very high temperatures and if they were released outside they would constitute a serious danger for people in the vicinity and for the surrounding environment. Therefore, in order to minimize the risks associated with this hazard, Eni does whatever derives from the application of the best techniques and practices.
First of all, the column has been designed, built, tested, installed and started up according to Eni's technical standards, which are in line with international standards. The contractors that have carried out these operations have been rigorously selected and are constantly monitored during work. Inside the column there are instruments that constantly detect various parameters, such as pressure and temperature, and report them to a control room where trained technicians are able to spot any anomalies in the functioning of the plant. The column is equipped with mechanical and instrument safety devices designed to intervene in case of deviation from safe operating conditions. The correct functioning of measurement and safety devices as well as of their reliability are monitored and safety critical instruments are submitted to a plan of routine and procedured checks. Safety management system is regularly audited both internally and by the relevant control authorities.
In this case the application of risk analysis contributes to establish the column construction standards, the instrumentation reliability level, the type and frequency of calibrations and inspections, all aimed at reducing both the probability of a hazardous event (prevention) and of its consequences to acceptable levels (mitigation); though the case illustrated is not exhaustive, it gives an idea of the constant commitment of our technical staff to ensure that hazards inherent in our plants do not become a threat to safety.
For us, what has been described here is a daily work tool and a distinctive characteristic of belonging to a community that includes ourselves, the others and the environment.  
The high level of technical competence in managing industrial risks by the hundreds of employees involved in the design and operations ensures to thousands of other workers and stakeholders economic wellbeing, improved living conditions and a safe return home.

In 2008 there was a consistent reduction in injuries from road accidents, which are one of the major cause of workplace accidents in Italy and abroad: from 55 in 2006 to 94 in 2007 and 34 in 2008. This result, the best ever, is the result of an intensification of prevention policies applied to the use of motor vehicles.

Over the year plans were also developed to increase the severity of safety controls on contractors, in particular in foreign activities. In addition to training activities, which grew in 2008 by 8.5%, efforts continued to spread a culture of safety with new internal communication projects aimed also at contractors in all units of the business.

Training is a fundamental lever for the consolidation of a culture that considers safety as a primary value on which to invest in the pursuit of continuous improvement.

In compliance with the legislative decree 81/0, in cooperation with Eni Corporate University and the ISPESL (Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro) Eni has created an online training course for those who work in the company's offices and at corporate headquarters.

The course is part of a broader, flexible and interactive multimedia training programme and allows participants to access, from their work station to the online course and to progress in line with their learning rhythm.

The training course consists of a number of modules and lasts for a total of 3 hours. At the end of each module, participants can take a test to verify their progress. Over the whole of the course a tutor is available to provide support for anyone who has difficulty or requires further information.

Regrettably, in 2008 there were 17 fatal accidents, of which 5 involved employees (2 in 2007) and 12 contractors (15 in 2007). While the figure for contractors is in line with the overall downward trend, the figure for employees was up for the first time since 2003.

The reason for this was a serious accident on the semi-sub Saipem 7000 platform during the laying of the sealine between Algeria and Spain.

On 17 September 2008, on board Saipem 7000, during operations for the laying of the Medgaz underwater gas pipeline in international waters, Saipem experienced the most tragic accident in the company's history.

Due to a fault in the computer system that regulates the process of tube movement in the J-Lay tower, two tubes, that at that moment were being held in two different parts of the tower, were released. The first tube slid inside the tower, without causing particular damage, while the second dropped onto an area of passage, killing four people and injuring another 4.

An analysis of the event, carried out in the days immediately following the incident, showed that it had been caused by a fault in the control software, the re-starting of which had led to the release of the tube sections, and by the presence - prohibited by safety procedures - of people on the platform underneath the pipe elevator.

Immediate measures were put in place to remove the software that had caused the release of the tubes and for the introduction of additional electro-mechanical and acoustic protections during movement operations and to re-focus the attention of the workforce on existing prohibitions for people to remain in areas of risk during movement operations.

These actions were supported by management which, having intervened directly on board Saipem 7000, sent out a message to all personnel in which, in addition to expressing great regret for the seriousness of the accident, confirmed that the "Leadership in Safety" project for the diffusion of a culture of safety would be pursued with increased vigour among the people engaged in activities in the Engineering & Construction area of the company.