Environment, Health & Safety
Created on 1991
Since its creation, this Committee developed several projects on –environment, health and safety- issues of relevance for the Region's oil and gas industry. These projects addressed technical aspects on oil spill contingency planning, atmospheric emissions, climate change and energy efficiency, occupational health and safety, as well as other issues related to environment, health and safety management. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) played a significant role in this process during 1991 and 2005. Having addressed several of these projects through specific Working Groups, in September/2007 this Committee merged with the Emergency Response Planning and Occupational Health & Safety Working Groups, incorporating the scope of these groups into the Committee’s lines of action. Since 2007, the Committee has been entrusted to lead the process of implementation and improvement of the management of operations’ integrity within ARPEL membership. The Committee is now addressing the management components aiming at reducing the environmental, health and safety risks of the operations and provides guidance to develop corporate capabilities to be implemented at the strategic and operational level.
Objectives
*To promote the exchange of information and experiences among Member Companies as well as with regional and international organizations to strengthen their environment, health and safety management and disseminate and encourage the implementation of best environment, health and safety practices. To identify regional/international environment, health and safety and social-environmental issues and trends and propose strategies and actions to address them. To consolidate the condition of Latin American and Caribbean forum with worldwide recognition that represents and disseminates the opinion of the industry operating in the Region, in issues concerning environment, health and safety, developing the synergy between ARPEL and other regional and international associations and organizations.
Achievements
*Development of the ARPEL Program on Integral Environment, Health and Safety Management. First report on regional environmental benchmarking aiming at supporting individual companies’ efforts to pursue their environmental management continuous improvement. Development of 130 technical guidelines and reports on environment, health and safety issues. Incorporation of ARPEL's environmental guidelines as a basis for regulating the industry's operations in several countries of the Region. Development of documents on key environment, health and safety issues displaying the consensus of industry operating in the Region. Consolidation, since 1997, of annual statistics of safety incidents of the Latin America and the Caribbean oil and gas industry. This compilation constitutes the first and most representative regional database on the performance –in upstream and downstream operations - of both companies and contractors. 77 direct assistances to implement ARPEL guidelines at Member Companies’ installations. Development of the first Symposium on environment, health and safety in the Oil and Gas Industry of Latin America and the Caribbean (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 2002). 65 training events on major emerging, management and operational environment, health and safety issues with the involvement of over 3000 professionals from industry, government and other stakeholders. Strengthening of ARPEL as a point of reference for the industry in environmental excellence, developing a significant network with regional and international organizations. This includes a history of successful working relation and partnership with several governments and relevant organizations.
Activities
Following the development of the ARPEL Strategic Plan, the ARPEL Environment, Health and Safety Committee (CASYSIA) is focusing its work to lead the program to implement and improve the operations’ integrity management systems of its members. A system to manage the integrity of operations provides the framework for managing safety, health, environmental risks as well as those related to community relations at the companies’ facilities. The system consists of several elements, each of which includes an underlying principle and a set of expectations to be met in the design, construction and operation of the companies’ facilities. Acting as the “radar” of the key environment, health and safety issues that need to be addressed by the regional oil and gas industry, the CASYSIA will continue holding annual workshops/seminars on emerging issues.
The Committee is also working in other relevant activities, as follows:
The coordination of the ARPEL Program on integral environment, health and safety management aiming at the implementation and improvement of its members’ operations integrity management systems. The Program also aims at periodically updating the ARPEL reference management system, through the contributions of the Member Companies. Improvement of virtual interaction among Member Companies through the development of networks involving the Committee members and other specialists. There are two forums presently operational: improvement of integral EHS management and review of work incidents’ statistics.
ARPEL Members presently participating of this Committee include: ANCAP, CCA, Chevron, ECOPETROL, ENAP, ExxonMobil, IAPG, IBP, PCJ, PDVSA, PEMEX, PETROBRAS, PETROECUADOR, PETROPAR, PETROPERU, PETROTRIN, RECOPE, REFIDOMSA, Repsol YPF, STAATSOLIE, StatoilHydro, Total, Wintershall and YPFB
Managers
The Project Manager of this committee is Miguel Moyano.
