The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project hosted a delegation of local leaders, including…
EACOP participates at the Inaugural Occupational Safety & Health Conference & Expo 2024
East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) proudly participated as a lead sponsor in the Inaugural Occupational Safety & Health Conference & Expo 2024, held at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. This prestigious event brought together industry leaders, safety professionals, and key stakeholders to discuss and promote best practices in occupational safety and health.
EACOP’s presentation was delivered by Richard Elijah Ssonko, HSE Performance & Reporting Lead, and Dr. Stacy Bridgewater, Health, Safety, and Emergency Response (HS&ER) Manager. Their presentation, titled “Leadership Commitment – The Foundation to Achieving a Zero Harm Workplace,” showcased EACOP’s proactive approach to embedding safety into the core of its operations.
EACOP is committed to achieving a Zero Harm workplace, a goal that is deeply ingrained in the company’s Health, Safety, Security, Social and Environment (H3SE) Policy. This commitment is driven from the top, with the active involvement of EACOP’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in all safety-related initiatives. Dr. Stacy Bridgewater emphasized this point, stating, “Our leadership’s active participation in safety initiatives is not just about compliance—it’s about creating a culture where safety is paramount in everything we do.”
Richard Elijah Ssonko highlighted specific initiatives that are central to achieving this objective, such as:
- Leadership KPIs: These include HSE Management Site Visits by the SLT, HSE Management Board and Committee Meetings with key contractors, and the H3SE Observation Intervention and Awards program, all designed to ensure continuous engagement and improvement in safety practices.
- Zero Harm Leadership Teams: These teams, along with the Zero Harm Orientation program, play a critical role in ensuring that safety is a daily priority across all EACOP sites.
One of the key initiatives discussed was EACOP’s commitment to World Safety Day 2024. As part of this initiative, EACOP ensured that every active site in Uganda and Tanzania was visited by a Director or member of the Senior Leadership Team. These visits provided an opportunity for direct dialogue between leadership and the workforce, reinforcing the importance of safety and allowing real-time feedback. Richard Elijah Ssonko noted, “These site visits are a cornerstone of our safety culture, enabling us to connect directly with our teams and understand their safety concerns firsthand.”
EACOP also places great emphasis on recognizing and rewarding safety excellence. Through the H3SE Observation Intervention and Awards program, employees who demonstrate outstanding commitment to safety are acknowledged, further embedding safety as a key value within the organization.
As EACOP continues its journey towards creating a Zero Harm workplace, the company remains committed to sharing its experiences, learning from others, and leading by example in the field of safety.