Safety, Health, Environmental and Sustainability (SHES)
Client Context
A global leader in catalyst manufacturing for the Chemical and Oil & Gas industries engaged EFESO to assess its Safety, Health, Environmental, and Sustainability (SHES) organization and processes. The objective was to benchmark against the Vision Zero Framework and EFESO’s Best Run Chemical Operations Playbook, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.
Through a detailed analysis of multiple sites, EFESO found that SHES programs were inconsistent and ineffective, lacking alignment with sustainability goals. The company aimed to solidify its SHES foundation and establish a comprehensive, world-class strategy that would drive safety, compliance, and operational excellence.
Key Challenges
- Lack of a SHES Strategy and Management System, leading to reactive rather than proactive risk management
- Disconnected and inconsistent work processes, reducing operational effectiveness
- Insufficient alignment with sustainability initiatives, missing opportunities for long-term value creation
- Undefined roles and responsibilities, resulting in accountability gaps
- Weak process safety management and management of change, increasing operational risks
- Limited use of cascading KPIs, making it difficult to track and drive performance improvement
To transform SHES into a competitive advantage, the company needed a structured governance model, standardized processes, and a proactive performance management system.
Approach & Key Success Factors
EFESO structured the transformation around two key workstreams:
1. SHES Framework Development
- Designed a comprehensive SHES strategy, aligning with corporate objectives and Vision Zero principles
- Defined roles, responsibilities, and governance structures to ensure clear accountability
- Developed a RACI Matrix to clarify ownership of SHES functions across the organization
- Established best-practice work processes for safety, environmental compliance, and sustainability integration
- Created a global communication plan to drive engagement and two-way feedback
2. SHES Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Performance Management
- Implemented a cascading KPI system, integrating leading and lagging indicators to track performance
- Embedded real-time monitoring dashboards into operational workflows
- Designed a closed-loop performance management system, ensuring corrective actions were systematically implemented
- Developed an implementation roadmap to deploy SHES improvements globally
Results
Established a world-class SHES framework, with structured governance and standardized work processes
Integrated sustainability initiatives, positioning SHES as a strategic business enabler
Enhanced accountability with clear roles and responsibilities across sites
Improved performance tracking through real-time KPI monitoring and structured problem-solving
Launched a global communication and implementation plan, fostering cultural change and operational excellence
This transformation has positioned the company for long-term value creation and revenue growth, reinforcing safety, environmental responsibility, and operational efficiency as core business pillars.