MANAMA: ASRY, the leading ship and rig repair yard in the Arabian Gulf, has launched the most comprehensive safety campaign in the yard’s history, with the aim of drastically reducing safety incidents, by deeply integrating a new safety culture into the workforce, and modernising the yard-wide safety protocols and procedures. The launch event involved the largest gathering of ASRY staff in the yard’s history, an explanation of the new Safety drive’s theme – ‘Hero for Zero’ – and outlined the scope of the undertaking.

“Safety excellence must be our top priority,” explained ASRY Chief Executive Nils Kristian Berge. “In light of recent tragic safety failures, we are re-committing all available resources to developing every employee’s awareness of safety. Our analysis of safety statistics shows that many incidents could have been prevented if safety had been at the forefront of the minds of those involved. Ensuring a safe environment must be the first consideration of every employee before every task. A revitalized safety culture is necessary in ASRY, supported by updated safety policies, procedures and training. This is a lengthy and complicated challenge, but we are hereby committing to make it our top priority.”

The campaign – entitled Hero For Zero – draws on two main safety principles. Firstly that safety is every employee’s own responsibility; that everyone can be a ‘Safety Hero’. Secondly, that all accidents are preventable; that accidents can be brought to zero. The ‘Safety Hero For Zero Accidents’ message will be communicated through a broad range of channels including yard adverts, newsletters, digital media, as well as through face-to-face refresher courses, training modules, safety literature, and more.

The drive will roll-out in phases in months to come that will include employee interaction initiatives, modernised training techniques, updated safety department regulations, Safety officer management overhaul, redesign of administrative and operational safety literature and permits, digital communications campaigns, and more.