- Cepsa takes action by organizing 69 safety drills in 2019 in the Canary Islands and by providing over 13,450 hours of safety training for its professionals
- The safety its personnel and facilities is a priority for the energy company
Cepsa commemorates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on April 28 each year. This year the slogan was: Stop the pandemic: Safety and health at work can save lives, with the aim of raising awareness about the adoption of safe workplace practices and emphasizing the steps that should be taken to guarantee a safe and healthy working environment for all.
Cepsa's actions come in the midst of the state of emergency caused by the health crisis. This situation has led the company—the activity of which is essential—to implement social distancing measures and step up hygiene at its operating centers, points of sale and distribution. Prevention is an inherent part of the work culture that characterizes Cepsa professionals and we are working every day to instill this vision in our ancillary companies, suppliers, distributors and customers.
In the Canary Islands, in addition to the Tenerife Refinery—the industrial center with state-of-the-art technology—Cepsa has 13 other operating facilities distributed throughout the islands, used for its activities in the supply of aviation and shipping fuels. Prevention policies are priorities at all of these facilities.
Cepsa has had large-scale remote working in place since the onset of the ongoing health crisis caused by COVID-19. The company has also increased the daily working hours of shift-workers who, due to the nature of their position, cannot work remotely. These workers are working in 12-hour shifts to minimize the number of people working at the same time at each place of work.
The number and intensity of hygiene and sanitary measures has been increased and communal areas have been closed to prevent new infections. Social distancing has been reinforced and the use of PPE is enforced in areas where it is not possible to keep two meters apart while working. Thermal imaging cameras have also been installed in the entrances to the main industrial centers, as well as the Tenerife Refinery, measuring the temperatures of personnel before they access the plant, thereby avoiding infections.
The top objective is zero accidents, for which the continuous pursuit of preventive excellence is fundamental. The Cepsa plants have established a Health and Safety Management System that is certified in accordance with OHSAS 18001. In 2020, these certifications will be updated according to the new ISO 45001 standard.
Cepsa has also put in place a Process Safety Management System with the aim of having a common framework that allows greater control over productive processes at all times, in accordance with the Energy Institute (EI) guidelines.
And, because Cepsa's concern for safety also extends to its products, the Product Stewardship area evaluates each product's entire life cycle — from development to marketing. Thanks to this comprehensive approach to safety, the company's activity is carried out under a standard of excellence that encompasses environmental protection, natural resource conservation and energy efficiency.
The company also carries out regular risk assessments and determines the different options for reducing the risks identified. These assessments are carried out by identifying the specific risks of each area and job, including human error. Every year, Cepsa develops a Preventive Safety Observations (PSO) Plan for the work carried out to correct unsafe actions and behaviors. In 2019, 42,392 PSO were made throughout the company, of which 2,129 were carried out in the Canary Islands. Each year, Cepsa also develops a Technical Inspection Plan—which schedules production shutdowns for maintenance—and a Safety Walk-Around Plan, where the chain of command, along with operators, looks at best practices.
It should be added that Cepsa has its Internal Emergency Plan (IEP), which details the protocols in case of emergency and an evacuation plan to be used if necessary, in addition to coordination with the external emergency services.
For plans to be effective, training is key. Therefore in 2019, 13,462 hours of safety training were given to professionals working in the Canary Islands. There were also 69 safety drills conducted on the Islands.
Healthy Company Program and Cybersecurity
Cepsa's Healthy Company Program (sports activities, healthy living habits, work-life balance…) aims to mitigate health risks detected in the information obtained during employee medical examinations. All of this is in the context of the implementation of the Workplace Health Promotion model, which is in accordance with the Luxembourg Declaration and the Spanish Network of Healthy Companies.
Finally, Cepsa is aware that it is crucial to improve cybersecurity. In this field, the company has defined regulations for industrial environments; developed of a new global cybersecurity service; promoted the culture of cybersecurity; updated the technology risk map; and has arranged insurance coverage for such incidents.