Continuous improvement evaluation work practices

The oil industry has always given safety high priority. There are no incentives at all for not doing that. This applies least of all to the oil companies that have to compete for new licences and are dependent on safe and efficient operation of their production facilities. I have worked for so long in public administration that I know what emphasis is put on safety statistics and safety evaluations when new licences are granted. It is important that the authorities continue this practice. The oil industry spends enormous resources on safety work, and statistics show that there has been radical and continuous improvement in the safety level in the industry throughout the 80s and 90s. It is therefore very unfortunate and totally wrong when it is claimed that safety was better in the past. Safety has never been better than it is now. 

The coaching process detailed in Chapter 12 also discussed how to develop and apply both generic and job-specific checklists for one-on-one observation and feedback sessions with coworkers (see Figures 12.9 and 12.10). As mentioned previously, using a behavioral checklist to observe and evaluate ongoing work practices is the type of performance appraisal that can lead to continuous improvement. 

Dr. Ian Abrahams is a senior lecturer in science education at the University of York (UK). His current research interests relate to practical work, teachers attitudes to practical work, and science teachers continuous professional development (CPD). He recently led the evaluation of the national Getting Practical - Improving Practical Work in Science -project and is currently leading an evaluation of a large-scale CPD programme for primary science coordinators. 

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