The COS Safety Leadership Award

Since 2011, the Center for Offshore Safety (COS) has led the way in advancing safety and operational integrity for the U.S. offshore natural gas and oil industry. Through shared good practices and continuous learning opportunities, COS supports the industry in meeting its evolving safety and sustainability goals, which include reducing the occurrence of offshore industry safety incidents.

COS was established to help companies manage their operational risk by accrediting the auditors who provide them with Safety and Environmental Management Systems audits, which are detailed in API Recommended Practice (RP) 75, Safety and Environmental Management for Offshore Operations. In addition, COS provides feedback to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regarding the interaction between API standards and governmental safety regulations.

When it comes to offshore safety, the principle of “a rising tide lifts all boats” is particularly apt in describing the COS commitment to sharing and facilitating safety discussions. By promoting an open environment for exchanging knowledge, COS helps operators incorporate safety standards and mitigate risks for the entire industry through effective Safety and Environmental Management Systems.

The COS Safety Leadership Award plays an integral role in this mission, encouraging industry-wide collaboration and the exchange of good practices to enhance offshore safety. Given annually, the award honors operators and contractors who demonstrate outstanding leadership in developing safety management and performance practices. These practices and projects play a key role in advancing a culture of safety within the offshore industry. Nominations for the award emphasize the importance of engagement, encouraging industry professionals to acknowledge achievements and inspire further innovation and advancements.

While the award singles out individual achievement, it also highlights the broader benefits of sharing successful strategies and operational insights, furthering the industry’s goal of creating a culture of safety and environmental stewardship. By recognizing these achievements, the COS Safety Leadership Award encourages other companies to adopt similar practices, nurturing a continuous cycle of learning and improvement across the industry.

It is no coincidence then that the award is presented at the Annual COS Forum (Forum), COS’ industry event where safety trends, challenges and innovations are discussed by industry leaders. The Safety Leadership Award presentation has become a focal point of this forum, providing a high-profile platform for finalists to showcase their achievements.

Previous Award Winners

Each year before the Forum, the COS Board reviews all nominations, selecting finalists in both the operator and contractor categories. These finalists are then highlighted at the annual event, where their impactful contributions and program successes are detailed and shared among members. Forum attendees vote to determine the award winners after seeing all six presentations.

Last year, Occidental Petroleum won top honors in the operator category for its Oxy Heat Stress Program, which protects workers from the health risks posed by extreme temperatures in offshore environments. Through rigorous audits, monitoring and the deployment of heat stress aids, Oxy aims to both reduce and mitigate heat incidents. Since its launch in 2020, Oxy has led to improvements in heat stress management metrics, along with a notable reduction in heat-related incidents.

In the contractor category, Valaris was recognized for its innovative approach to onboarding new offshore employees. Its immersive “Valaris Basic Training” program repurposed one of its offshore assets into a training rig, offering recruits an authentic, hands-on introduction to offshore work. The program significantly improved safety outcomes and retention rates among new employees.

Nominate for the 2024 COS Safety Leadership Award

This year, COS will again present Safety Leadership Awards in the operator and contractor categories, recognizing those who have made significant advancements in safety management practices, focusing on accident risk reduction and systematic safety improvements.

Help COS identify the projects or initiatives over the past year deserving of this coveted recognition. Submit your nomination and description for the projects or initiatives that exemplify the highest standards of safety excellence. By submitting a nomination, you are given a chance to highlight your company’s achievements while contributing to the collective learning and improvement of the industry. Nominations are open until June 28, 2024; the six finalists (three in each category) will be showcased at the 2024 COS Forum in Houston, September 26, 2024. Your company does not need to be a COS member to submit a nomination.

No stone left unturned and nothing in return

In the pursuit of offshore safety, the industry celebrates its safety first, safety always mission, striving for no incidents and no catastrophic failures. And it is precisely this pursuit that highlights the importance of the COS Safety Leadership Award. This tangible recognition celebrates the rigorous and often unnoticed efforts that prevent incidents, transforming the industry’s abstract goal into a concrete achievement celebrating proactive steps.

Please take a few minutes to nominate the projects or initiatives that you feel best exemplify the development and sharing of good safety management practices. Nominees must also provide a description of the program, which the COS Board will use when selecting the finalists. You can download the nomination form here. Nomination deadline is June 28, 2024.