Tavakoli: HSE should not be limited to a specific unit

The need for comprehensive participation of the National Gas Company's components to reduce operational risks

Emphasizing the vital role of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) in organizational sustainability, the CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company stated that if all components of an organization are not genuinely engaged in HSE, the organization will merely become a “system‑driven” structure without meaningful achievements; whereas today’s world is moving toward simplifying and streamlining processes.

To report Mehr News، Saeid Tavakoli Speaking today at the Second “Safety Process” Conference, he referred to recent operational experiences and stated that during the incident on February 12 last year, in which four pipelines were targeted in a sabotage attack, HSE forces were present at the scene alongside operational staff and played an effective role in managing the situation.

Stating that the current condition of the country’s gas and energy industry is fragile, he added that every individual and every department must act in proportion to their capabilities and responsibilities, and that appointments to high‑risk positions should be made solely on the basis of merit.

Referring to the deterioration of infrastructure, the CEO of the National Gas Company stated: "The average lifespan of the country's power plants is about 42 years, and oil and gas facilities are in similar conditions. The continuous use of this worn-out equipment naturally increases operational risks and requires special focus on safety and maintenance."

Emphasizing that the longevity of oil, gas, and petrochemical facilities has become a serious challenge, Tavakoli added: "The only effective solution is to return to the initial safe and stable conditions. External threats occur less frequently at the National Iranian Gas Company, but the issue of industrial sabotage and internal factors needs to be carefully examined and rooted out."

In another part of his speech, he mentioned the importance of human resources and said: "Increasing psychological and social capital alone is not the solution. If human resources are working in the oil and gas industries, their salaries and benefits must be paid properly. Until the organizational structure and performance of human resources are fundamentally pathologically diagnosed, real progress cannot be expected."

The CEO of the National Gas Company noted: "In the field of HSE, everyone, without exception, is 100 percent responsible. Employees must feel that others are just as responsible as they are, because the behavior of individuals is a direct reflection of the culture and structure of the organization."

He concluded by stating: The "permit to perform work" process should be reviewed and it should be clearly determined what proportion of industrial accidents were caused by weaknesses or deficiencies in these permits, as reforming this cycle could play an important role in reducing accidents.