The Center for Offshore Safety (COS) announced that Schlumberger is the first service/supply contractor to achieve the voluntary COS member certification of its safety and environmental management systems (SEMS).
SEMS, which focuses on establishing, managing and measuring barriers that protect against escalation to a major incident, are intended to foster continuous learning and improvement for safety and environmental management. The voluntary certification program for contractors requires participation in a COS program SEMS audit using independent verification by third-party auditors that have been assessed and accredited by COS.
Schlumberger achieved SEMS certification based on the outcome of an audit conducted by DNV GL Business Assurance USA, a COS-accredited audit service-provider. The audit scope included Schlumberger’s Head Office, onshore manufacturing/service facilities, and verification of SEMS implementation at an active offshore location where Schlumberger was active. A total of 12 locations were visited during the SEMS audit.
“The certification demonstrates a contractor’s desire to go above and beyond in the pursuit of continuous safety improvement,” said Charlie Williams, COS executive director. “Contractors play a critical safety role in which good communications with operators are vital. Getting its management systems certified voluntarily shows the importance Schlumberger places on safety, the environment and the relationship between contractors and operators.”
“While Schlumberger has had a comprehensive management system in place since the late 1980’s, the SEMS certification audit provided a great opportunity to verify that our system meets the regulatory requirements of the US outer continental shelf,” said Rob Cummings, Schlumberger HSE Manager – North America Offshore. “The exercise not only highlighted the numerous strengths of our organization but also identified opportunities for improvement. This process of continuous assessment and progression ensures that our system is maintained to the highest standards in the industry.”