Keeping in focus the importance of health, safety, security and environment in industry within a fast growing economy, the HSSE Angola Conference launched today at the Talatona Convention Hotel in Luanda.

Officially Supported by state company Sonangol E.P., this is the first conference initiative by Fleming Gulf in the region. Chairing the conference and guiding the sessions today is Telmo dos Santos, Member of Council at the Angolan Association of Occupational Health and Safety (AASO). Santos will be speaking about hand injury prevention and hazardous awareness in the Oil & Gas sector later today.

Leading the first presentation was Daniela Matos, Group Director Health Safety Environment at Sonangol E.P. Matos spoke on how safety is about the people and behaviour is the challenge. Where Matos highlights that Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) is not a substitution rather it is an implementation in creating a pro-active safety culture while experts Caroline Passuello and Roberto Bazil from DNV-GL addressed the practical issues involved in such an implementation. Passuello and Bazil shared insights about the matter that included the need for a strong theoretical framework and an active change management as an essential element to support a cultural improvement.

The conference also witnessed Christine Oosthuizen of Aon South Africa (Pty) Ltd. and Dr. Alberto Marques Valente speak on health management services alongside Vitor Santos, Country Chief Executive at Bureau Veritas, address on HSE Roads in Angola. Typa Iyambo of Ministry of Mines & Energy Republic of Namibia and Anders de Lichtenberg of Maersk Drilling make up the rest of the speaker panel. A closing panel discussion will discuss the proactive efforts for creating a culture of security addressing security prioritisation tactics and security awareness.


The final day of the HSSE Angola Conference will comprise of Interactive Workshops tackling different aspects of health, safety and environment. Workshop leaders will include Marcell Greeff (De Beers Marine Pty Ltd), Ricardo Nanitamo (Weatherford Services), Justice Derefaka (Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria) and Antonio Gembi (National Civil Protection and Fire Fighter Agency Angola). The leaders will conduct workshops on Safety & Risk Management Framework, Working at Heights, Waste Management in the Oil & Gas Sector and Fire Security awareness respectively.

Sponsors at the conference include Bureau Veritas, International SOS, AON, DNV-GL, AZMC - Investments Ltd, Bagshaw Footwear, CYMOT, Bata Industrials, Open Safety and EMEX. The conference is also supported by the Industrial Association of Angola (AIA), Safety First Association, ABDAS, SAIOH, SASOHN, SASOM and MMPA.