Safety Comes First At Shell

Safety Comes First At Shell

The health and safety of Shell staff, site staff and customers is the number one priority for Shell New Zealand, and to reinforce its importance, Shell is rolling out a safety-training programme across its 220-strong company owned retail network.

Entitled Hearts & Minds, the programme is an extension to Shell's existing world class training processes, which aim to make Shell sites safer for site staff and customers.

"Hearts & Minds is about putting the safety of site staff and customers first," says Shell's Retail General Manager Rob Mahoney. "Safety remains our number one priority across all of our New Zealand operations."

Mr Mahoney said the number of incidences of abuse, violent and aggravated robberies and attacks occurring at retail sites are a continuing concern.

"Shell is investing more than $2 million dollars over the next 18 months on improving the security features at our sites to make sure they are safer, and our sites are less attractive to robbers."

The improved security features included anti-jump wires on some sites, eight-camera digital CCTV systems, world class "intelligent" cash safes, monitored emergency alarms at all sites, mobile alarm pendants for staff, as well as changes inside the shop to enhance site staff security.

"While we are making physical improvements to our retail sites, most importantly, the Hearts & Minds program is focused on site staff training," said Mr Mahoney.

"Hearts & Minds teaches site staff how not put themselves at risk and it also equips site staff with modern tools and training to keep themselves and their customers' safe."

The training encompasses a DVD which includes detailed advice on what to do in certain circumstances such as a robbery or intimidation, and includes real-life experiences as told by current site staff.

Hearts & Minds is being rolled out over the next month at all Shell operated service stations in New Zealand. In selected areas, local police representatives will be attending launches of the new safety training.

Hearts & Minds is a global initiative that puts health and safety first across all of Shell's operations, and Shell New Zealand has developed the New Zealand-specific training programme from Shell's world leading initiatives and resources.

In addition to Hearts & Minds, Shell has also improved its overall incident reporting system across its retail network to now record all incidents that occur on sites.

"We record all incidences on the basis that "what gets reported, gets fixed," said Mr Mahoney. "While we have seen an increase in reported safety incidents, largely due to the improved incident reporting from sites, we believe the underlying safety performance is improving."

In a selected number of areas, Shell is also trialling a follow up procedure to recover costs as a result of petrol thefts and drive-offs.

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