Zeroing in on Safety

Safety is always a top priority at Hornbeck Offshore Services. As thrilled as we were that 2007 saw HOS' lowest Recordable Incident Rate (RIR) to date, we are even more excited about the safety campaign we had in 2008: Target Zero. The program, which we promoted through safety visits, handouts and special Safety Bulletins, established our goal to achieve “zero harm” to:

• People
• Property
  
• The environment

Target Zero involves two major safety initiatives: Hornbeck Observation & Review of Safety & Environmental (H.O.R.S.E .) and Near Miss

A H.O.R.S.E. of a different color
The H.O.R.S.E. initiative is designed to increase the safety awareness of HOS crews. By doing so, we decrease the likelihood of a foreseeable incident.

As a behavior-based safety program, H.O.R.S.E. encourages all crew members to observe and record both safe and unsafe behavior by their fellow crew members on the job.

When we receive H.O.R.S.E. reports that note crew members observing safe work practices, we can offer commendations to the involved employees.

Reports of unsafe or incorrect behaviors — behaviors that could harm people, property or the environment — provide important information that we can use to identify and correct potential problem areas. Not only do the reports help us target areas for improvement, but they also give us an opportunity to show our appreciation of our crews’ devotion to safety. And just the act of watching out for reportable incidents, safe or unsafe, increases the crews’ awareness and helps us all put safety first.

Learning from Near Misses
The second safety program that we hope has helped HOS meet its 2008 Target Zero goal is the Near Miss reporting initiative. Crew members use the Near Miss form to record any “near misses” — incidents that did not but could have led to an accident or safety problem. For example, if one crew member spots another crew member climbing onto a counter without using an approved stool, ladder or other equipment, the first crew member should file a Near Miss report documenting the incident.

The Near Miss forms document the actions that led up to the near miss. This level of detail can help the HOS QSE staff, as well as the operations staff and vessel teams, to identify and learn from the root causes of potential safety mishaps. This level of awareness and education greatly decreases the chance that risky behavior now will contribute to a safety mishap in the future.

On target for safety
Our short-term, traceable goal for both the H.O.R.S.E. and Near Miss programs is to increase their use. And so far, HOS employees throughout the company have stepped forward to meet this goal, with gusto! Second quarter of 2008 saw a 200 percent increase in the number of submitted H.O.R.S.E. cards and the number of Near Miss reports, over the same period in 2007. To learn more about our commitment to safety, call (985) 727-2000 or visit www.hornbeckoffshore.com.