MORE PEOPLE – FEWER INCIDENTS: ESVAGT reaches 500 days without LTI

ESVAGT has grown in terms of people and activity, yet the shipping company has managed to keep its focus on safety and responsible behavior. Now it’s a question of maintaining this positive trend.

The 12^th of October was a special milestone for the safety culture at ESVAGT as the shipping company marked 500 days without an LTI for the first time in six years.

“It is a significant performance that we can be very proud of,” says Asger Stürtzel Sørensen, Head of HSE:
“We have addressed the incidents that we have had and directed our efforts to address our specific issues - and that has made the difference,” he says.

ESVAGT has had LTIs related to lifting operations and boat operations, and that is why these specific areas have been focus areas with the use of permit to work and more specific requirements for Tool Box Talks and risk assessments.
Safety Leader Seminars have also been held for masters and chief engineers to reinforce safety leadership on board and to ensure an increased shared focus on the safety culture on board vessels.

More people – fewer incidents
For Asger Stürtzel Sørensen, it is important to note that the safety milestone has been reached despite the increase in activity and number of employees.

“Basically, it is harder to reach 500 days when we are more people working,” says Asger Stürtzel Sørensen:
“And we should also remember that the way we work today is significantly different to 2015 when we last reached 500 days without an LTI. Back then, most of our work involved being actively prepared but on standby. Nowadays, most of our fleet is operational on a daily basis where we are an integral part of our customers’ duties. We work differently today and that makes our achievement even more notable,” says Asger Stürtzel Sørensen.

DCEO Kristian Ole Jakobsen is also pleased to have reached 500 days without an LTI.
“Safety is the highest priority for ESVAGT and nothing is more important than ensuring that everyone comes home safely from work. That is why it is absolutely critical that this culture is a part of everything we do at ESVAGT, and this milestone is witness to this,” says Kristian Ole Jakobsen.

Cannot be put in the bank

500 days is a long time to stay focused and a pat on the back is fully deserved.
But we cannot lose focus:
“You can compare safety efforts to holding onto a ball on a hill. No matter how long you hold on to the ball, it will always start rolling downhill as soon as you let go. You can’t look at the 500 days where the ball hasn’t rolled downhill and think: “now it will stay still when I let go”, says Asger Stürtzel Sørensen
“You can’t put safety in the bank.”