Award Nomination:
Port of Aberdeen recognised a critical need for enhanced stakeholder engagement and to revitalise its approach to health, safety and environmental (HSE) initiatives. This resulted in the creation of the port’s own HSE Awards.
The HSE Awards serve as a dedicated platform to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of organisations and individuals operating within the extensive 692-acre Port of Aberdeen estate.
The main aim of the HSE Awards was twofold:
- To acknowledge those who consistently meet / exceed the standards of excellence in their HSE practices.
- To highlight those dedicated to continual improvement in these areas within their respective operations.
Extensive research into industry best practices guided the development of the awards, ensuring relevance and effectiveness. The selection process for award winners was designed to be fair and inclusive, with representatives from all port departments participating in the selection process. This approach not only ensured impartial scoring but also fostered cross-departmental collaboration and the sharing of best practices.
Measuring the success of the HSE Awards was a key priority and the increase in both applications and attendance from the inaugural year demonstrated strong buy in from stakeholders including senior leaders, HSE professionals and industry representatives. Additionally, the awards facilitated proactive reporting of safety issues and fostered a culture of safety awareness and discussion across the port.
This year the HSE Awards continued to grow, with 53 attendees, a 100% increase in the number of nomination, and the introduction of a new port employee category. The awards serve not only to recognise achievements but also to inspire and promote a culture of safety and environmental stewardship across the port community.
Additional Information
The initiation of the HSE Awards at Port of Aberdeen stemmed from an important observation made by our current Head of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) when he joined in 2022.
Although the port had a strong 20-year history of stakeholder engagement across the port estate through its Port Safety Group (PSG), the established PSG had lost its momentum and a significant gap existed in the sharing of HSE information and best practices.
Recognising the need for an impactful initiative to increase engagement, the SHEQ Department with input from the PSG, the port’s Communications Department and Executive Leadership Team, the decision was taken to launch the port’s own HSE Awards.
To ensure the effectiveness of the awards, extensive research was conducted into existing industry HSE awards and initiatives. This thorough examination of industry best practices guided the development and selection of an awards format that would resonate best with our stakeholders and foster meaningful engagement. The research also helped influence award categories, category submission criteria, and the judging process.
The selection process for the awards was designed to ensure fairness and inclusivity. Representatives from every port department, spanning a breadth of roles and seniority levels, reviewed and scored submissions. This diverse employee group brought a wealth of experience and insights to the table, guaranteeing a comprehensive evaluation process was undertaken. Their collective input ensured cross-departmental collaboration, fostering the sharing of best practices across the organisation.
Measuring the success of the HSE Awards was paramount from its inception. In its inaugural year, we witnessed a notable number of applications and attendance at the event, indicating buy-in from senior stakeholders and HSE professionals alike. Furthermore, the increased engagement across the port community resulted in increased PSG meeting attendance, a rise in proactive safety observation reporting, fostering a culture of safety awareness and discussion at quarterly PSG meetings, monthly operators’ meetings, as well as online.
Looking ahead, the impact of the awards extends beyond recognition alone. Winners serve as exemplars, sharing their successful HSE programmes with other stakeholders to implement similar practices. For instance, the recipient of the 2023 Health and Safety Award, Peterson, presented their ‘Goal Zero’ strategy at a PSG meeting following their win. This presentation not only highlighted the tangible benefits of successful safety initiatives but also served as an attendance incentive for PSG members.
Building on this momentum, the HSE Awards continued to grow in 2024. The 10.5% increase in attendance and an overall 100% increase in submissions, particularly in the health and safety category, reflects the growing engagement and commitment to safety across the port estate.
Additionally, the introduction of the Zero Harm category for Port of Aberdeen employees underscores our dedication to promoting a culture of safety within our own workforce and operations, and recognises our ongoing zero harm journey.
In summary, the HSE Awards have made a significant and positive difference to safety across Port of Aberdeen, and they have materialised as a powerful tool for driving stakeholder engagement, fostering collaboration, and promoting best practices in HSE stewardship.
As we move forward, we remain committed to building on this foundation, ensuring the continued success and impact of the HSE Awards to share the positive message about the importance of all aspects of port HSE for years to come.
This year we witnessed a 300% increase in submissions for the Health and Safety category, and a 20% increase for the Environmental category. The introduction of the internal Zero Harm category also encouraged a wide number of submissions from Port of Aberdeen employees / teams.
Port of Aberdeen’s target to be the first UK port to achieve net zero by 2040 influenced the creation of the Environmental category. This was with the aim to inspire initiatives from port users to mitigate carbon emissions across scopes 2 and 3, aligning with the port’s industry leading net zero strategy.
Port of Aberdeen’s PSG, formerly Port Safety Liaison Group, originated in 2004 as part of the industry’s ‘Safer Ports’ initiative, serving as a platform for interaction, discussion, and knowledge exchange on safety-related matters across the port estate.
Convening quarterly, PSG meetings are facilitated by Port of Aberdeen and are hosted by various port users, including ASCO and Peterson. This collaborative approach aims to encourage increased engagement and participation, as well as forging stronger working relationships among port users.
Currently boasting 50 members, PSG meetings maintain a healthy engagement level, with the most recent meeting in March 2024 achieving a commendable 48% attendance rate.
Supporting documents
PoA HSE Awards 2024_2
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jpeg – 0.27mbJoin Us
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