Chevron CEO warned staff of safety issues before fatal Angola platform fire
"Preventing fatalities and serious incidents is our top priority," a Chevron spokesperson said when asked about the video. On May 20, a fire broke out on a Chevron-operated deepwater platform about 97km off Angola's coast. Three workers died and another 15 workers were injured.
Last year the company recorded 12 serious injuries and one fatality, according to its corporate sustainability report. Some of the injured workers from the Angola fire are still receiving treatment, said Clay Neff, Chevron's recently named president of upstream, in a separate video message to staff on May 30, which was also viewed by Reuters.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way and the company expects to learn more in the coming weeks, he added.
Chevron has held what Wirth called safety stand-downs across the business, or meetings to discuss safety.
'We prioritise safety above production, and we show it through actually stopping production, and have the time to talk to folks and hear from them as well," said Marissa Badenhorst, Chevron's vice-president of health, safety and environment, in an interview with Reuters. "We hear what is getting in their way, what they're concerned about … and then we learn and we start work back up.'
In his May 30 video addressing the Angola incident, Neff echoed Wirth's earlier message, telling staff that there was an increase in reported incidents across the business that could have resulted in serious injuries or fatalities, many involving routine daily tasks. "These were close calls where seconds or feet could have changed everything and they are stark reminders no one is immune," he said.
Neff called on employees to understand risks, do proper planning and understand what skill sets are required: "Nothing matters more than everyone going home safe."
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