Session: 01-01: Safety Management

Paper Number: 126763

126763 - Safety Culture: an Approach to Maturing Management Systems Through the Thoughtful Application of Human Factors 

Abstract: 

As SoCalGas matures its risk management practices, there is a desire to identify practical approaches to integrate human factors to strengthen the organization’s safety culture.

The Integrity Management department at SoCalGas has previously sought to mature its human factor practice within the organization. However, these initiatives have been limited by the relative difficulty associated with measuring their direct impact, the complexity of adapting the breadth and depth of the relevant knowledge base to specific projects, the potential resource burden of implementation, and general ambiguity in what constitutes industry best practice. It was recognized that to effectively leverage human factors for tangible improvements (e.g., improvement of operating procedures and processes to improve safety), future initiatives must be thoughtfully integrated with existing systems and processes, balancing best practice within organizational constraints. Considering this, SoCalGas and Jiva Consulting developed a novel approach with the following characteristics:

1) A significant scoping and planning stage prior to commencing the development of specific solutions, which included a detailed assessment of current gaps as a basis for developing a practical roadmap.

2)  A detailed literature review to identify and leverage tangible and practical practices from other industries and sectors.

3) A highly structured, multi‑year approach that allowed for careful identification of key stakeholders to ensure the development of practical and sustainable processes through the implementation of multiple pilots.

4) The development of a Human Factors ‘Toolkit’ comprised of a standardized assessment procedure to structure process implementation; a body of knowledge and quick reference guide to effectively translate key knowledge; assessment forms to structure consistent data collection and analysis; stakeholder engagement approaches to support issue validation and prioritization; and presentation materials for both staff training and organizational awareness.

This has allowed SoCalGas to effectively develop a unique approach to human factors that is theoretically sound and systematic while remaining practical and allowing for continuous improvement. The approach has been through multiple pilots and has created conditions to mature overall subject matter literacy within the organization regardless of roles or baseline knowledge level – ranging from field ‑based personnel to office based technical staff, including senior management.

The presentation of findings will outline how this approach addresses the complexities of implementing human factors practices at SoCalGas via integration with the existing management system as well as early learnings from conducting its initial pilots.

Presenting Author: Danny Shapiro SoCalGas

Presenting Author Biography: Greg Hallihan is a Human Factors specialist with training in psychology and engineering, with over a decade of experience working with industry, academic and government clients in product development, environmental design, and quality improvement. Greg has experience applying Human Factors methodologies across multiple industries, including health care, transportation, energy, finance, and consumer technologies, and has published work in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including Ergonomics in Design, Integrated Design and Process Science, the Transportation Research Record, and Applied Ergonomics. He received his Masters of Applied Science in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta.

Authors:

Greg Hallihan Jiva Consulting
Kaitlin Bentkowski Jiva Consulting
Danny Shapiro SoCalGas
Mari Shironishi SoCalGas
Reena Sahney Jiva Consulting