PSO celebrates World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Since 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO) observes World Day for Safety and Health at Work stressing the prevention of accidents and illnesses at work. This celebration is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO, as documented in the Conclusions of the International Labour Conference in June 2003. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a significant tool to raise awareness about how to make work safe and healthy and to highlight the urgent need to raise the profile of occupational safety and health. 28 of April is also a day long associated with commemorating victims of occupational accidents and diseases.

Realizing the importance of the day in the local context, the Managing Director, Pakistan State Oil, Mr. Irfan Qureshi, said, “PSO acknowledges this day by promoting the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases within the organization. We have in place an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus attention on the magnitude of the problem and on how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.”

The theme for World Day for Safety and Health at Work  for the year 2010 is “Emerging risks and new patterns of prevention in a changing world”. The Health, Safety and Environment team at PSO has identified three emerging risks related to Health and Safety at Work and their respective prevention strategies that are being followed by PSO. Each year this day is celebrated based on a unique theme stressing the prevention of illness and accidents at work. In this regard the HSE Team at PSO has identified three emerging risks related to Health and Safety at Work and their respective prevention strategies that are being followed by PSO.

PSO has in place strict measures to curb behaviors that put its employees at a risk for a possibly negative consequence. In this regard, necessary knowledge and skills are imparted to employees so that all activities are conducted safely and hands-on information HSE booklets are circulated for awareness among all stakeholders. Excessive work-related stress can cause numerous mental and physical health problems that often results in a sharp decline in productivity. At PSO, many steps have been taken to diminish work-related stress amongst employees such as flexi-timing to facilitate multi-tasking, an open-door policy where employees are free to discuss issues pertaining to the workplace culture, all this in addition to recreational facilities at PSO House & other facilities. Work-life balance is also maintained through various entertainment events organized specifically for the staff to relax and unwind.

PSO looks beyond internal measures for health & safety and works towards environmental uplift as well: pioneering the production and use of green fuels that are good for environment and reduce oil imports while being economical as well. E-10 Gasoline not only reduces carbon monoxide emissions but is also economical and helps engine perform better.

Each of us is responsible for stopping deaths and injuries on the job. As employees we are responsible to work safely and to protect ourselves and not to endanger others, to know our rights and to participate in the implementation of preventive measures.

PSO’s aspirations in this regard are to promote the concept of safe work across all departments and functions of the organization ranging from the MD to each petrol pump attendant, to reduce work place hazards and to prevent disease and achieve superior quality of process safety.