@article{eage:/content/journals/0.3997/1365-2397.25.1107.27458, author = "McBarnet, A.", title = "Maintaining the momentum in seismic safety management", journal= "First Break", year = "2007", volume = "25", number = "5", pages = "", doi = "https://doi.org/10.3997/1365-2397.25.1107.27458", url = "https://www.earthdoc.org/content/journals/0.3997/1365-2397.25.1107.27458", publisher = "European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers", issn = "1365-2397", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "Andrew McBarnet looks at some of the perennial challenges in safety management for geophysical survey operations in a global market. Safety is an extraordinarily sensitive issue in any industry, but probably especially so in land and marine seismic survey operations. Oil companies and their contractors are, after all, under intense pressure to ensure the safety of project personnel on a 24/7 basis while they are engaged in inherently dangerous activities. If something does go wrong, the emotional turmoil of an accident especially one involving loss of life is always extremely hard to deal with, and there can be unpredictable consequences. Companies and their managements can be vulnerable to hefty legal and financial penalties. An example of the impact on a company of a large scale accident was illustrated by the explosion at BP’s Texas City refinery in the US two years ago killing 15 workers. The company suffered a major blow to its credibility, has been fined, no doubt faces endless civil damages litigation, and the incident is widely held to have speeded the intended retirement date of its chairman Lord Browne, frequently cited as the outstanding CEO of his generation.", }