Oil Search approaching workplace safety through gender lens

                                                                                     By Jacob Marcos

The Oil Search Foundation and PNG Business Coalition for Women (BCFW) signed an agreement yesterday that formalises the participation of Oil Search in a pilot project that responds to safety issues in the workplace affected by, or linked to, gender.

The Gender-Smart Safety training programme provides skills and tools to carry out women’s safety audits to help improve the safety of women in the workplace. The pilot project commenced in May 2016 as part of a joint-effort by BCFW and the International Monetary Fund to support women’s economic empowerment in PNG.

Chair of BCFW, Lesieli Taviri, said the project is the result of a recent study conducted into the safety of women working in remote locations in Papua New Guinea.

“Safety is an area that is traditionally something considered to be gender neutral. Organisations often do not consider that men may have a different understanding of what constitutes a safety issue as compared to a female perspective.”

Oil Search is serious about looking at workplace safety through a gender lens and is proud to be one of the first member organisations of BCFW to be involved. Three Oil Search employees are participating in the Gender-Smart Safety training programme.

Executive General Manager of Oil Search’s PNG Business Unit, Julian Fowles, said the training will advance Oil Search’s company-wide thrust towards providing a safe, supportive and progressive work environment for women.

“Being part of this pilot program supports our vision of a PNG where gender equality is realised and women are empowered to live productive lives, free from all forms of violence. Feeling safe in the workplace plays a big part in achieving this vision.”

Upon completion of the training programme, Oil Search will have three employees specialised in Gender-Smart Safety with access to strategies and risk assessment tools to identify, measure and mitigate risks to women in all areas of its business.

Photo: (from left) Chair of the Business Coalition for Women, Lesieli Taviri; Women’s Protection and Empowerment Program Manager of the Oil Search Foundation, Josephine Smare; CEO of the Oil Search Foundation, Kymberley Kepore; and Addressing Violence Program Manager of the Business Coalition for Women, Nona Diya.