Emergency Preparedness: Real Lessons from the Field
Preparedness Is More Than Policy, It’s Culture
In oil and gas operations, emergencies can escalate in seconds, whether offshore, onshore, or inshore.
At Unitop, we go beyond checklists. Emergency preparedness is a culture shaped by discipline, experience, and daily QHSE practice.
We don’t wait for incidents to learn.
We prepare continuously because lives, operations, and reputations depend on it.
What Experience Has Taught Us
Across our operations, several core principles have been reinforced over Time:
- Redundancy protects lives. No critical system, power, communication, fire response should be without a reliable backup.
- Clarity beats complexity. Emergency protocols must be visual, simple, concise, and site-specific. When seconds count, confusion is a liability.
- Alignment across the chain. All internal, subcontracted, or External personnel must be aligned before work begins.
- Access is non-negotiable. PPE, extinguishers, and emergency gear must be visible, easily accessible, and regularly inspected.
Our Systems: Certified, Applied, Proven
Unitop operates under globally recognised management systems that form the foundation of our emergency readiness:
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management
- ISO 22000:2018 – Food Safety Management
- ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management
These systems aren’t just certifications, they shape how we plan, train, audit, and respond across all offshore, onshore, and inshore operations.
QHSE Engagement That Never Pauses
Here, Preparedness isn’t triggered by a calendar, it's continuous:
- Weekly QHSE briefings across all offshore, onshore, and inshore locations, which include marine bases and industrial kitchens
- Real-time reporting of near misses and safety observations
- PPE policies adapted to task-specific risks
- Performance tracking with site-level HSE KPIs
We maintain operational awareness every day, not just during inspections.
Training That Builds Confidence Not Just Compliance
A checklist won’t save lives in a high-pressure emergency. Trained, confident people will. That’s why we focus on:
- Simulation-based emergency drills tailored to real conditions
- Defined response roles for every individual from ground teams to marine crew to catering staff
- Leadership training for emergency coordinators across offshore, onshore, and inshore sites
Everyone has a role, and everyone must be ready to act.
Preparedness Is Responsibility
In the Nigerian oil and gas sector, emergency preparedness isn’t just a criterion, it’s a strategic advantage.
At Unitop, we treat it as a core responsibility to our people, our clients, and the environments we work in across offshore, onshore, and inshore operations. We ensure safe practices across all roles.
With over 10 million safe man-hours recorded, our commitment isn’t just measured by systems, it’s proven by performance.
We don’t just react. We anticipate, and when the moment comes, we’re ready because we’ve prepared for it every single day.
