According to NIOC, Farokh Alikhani, head of oil and gas production supervision, speaking at the Ninth Gathering of NIOC HSE Chiefs, said that adopting modern models and leveraging the valuable experience of experts in this field can improve HSE outcomes.

“HSE must become an organizational culture to strengthen its connection with other sectors and management units,” Alikhani said. He added that recognizing one’s role and position in HSE management leads to better performance and overall organizational growth.

He also highlighted that understanding NIOC’s value chain—from exploration to operation and production—helps reveal HSE’s critical role. “When HSE experts are involved from the design stage alongside operational colleagues, future challenges and risks can be significantly reduced,” he noted.

HSE as a Way of Thinking

Shahram Ahmadi, director general of Health, Safety and Environment at the Oil Ministry, said HSE has been part of Iran’s oil industry for over a century. “HSE goes beyond listing rules and controls—it must become a way of thinking across the organization to align with its broader goals,” he said.

Ahmadi emphasized that one of HSE’s primary goals is to prevent damage, especially human losses. “If HSE requirements are properly followed, sustainable safety will be achieved,” he said, noting that recent accidents in the oil industry stemmed from failures to enforce safety standards, noncompliance by contractors, and inadequate risk assessments.

He said establishing a “Process Safety Management System” across the ministry is one of the key HSE priorities for 2025.

Priority: Reassessing Equipment Safety Risks

Mohammad Mehdi Poyandeh, acting director general of Civil Defense and Crisis Management at the Oil Ministry, referenced the recent 12-day conflict, stressing that the current priority is to reassess the safety risks of equipment. “Given recent developments, these evaluations must be updated,” he said, adding that managers should base future assessments on the ministry’s 2025 guidelines.

Poyandeh added that a five-year action plan outlining priority measures will soon be communicated to all affiliated companies.

Shifting HSE Culture From Reactive to Preventive

Alireza Nojumi, NIOC’s HSE, Civil Defense and Crisis Management director, who hosted the event, announced that the annual HSE gathering will now be held regularly. “A strategic framework and HSE roadmap have been designed so all teams can align their actions and reduce potential incidents,” he said.

Nojumi added that the goal is to transform HSE from a reactive to a preventive culture. “Through full coordination with other NIOC departments, we can operationalize this culture and roadmap. It requires teamwork and collective effort,” he said.

He noted that NIOC personnel are safeguarding the oil industry with dedication but emphasized the need to move closer to international standards. “We still face shortages in equipment and manpower, and practical solutions must be found soon,” he said.

Nojumi said adopting artificial intelligence and modern training methods would help elevate NIOC’s HSE performance. “Sustainable development in the oil industry can only be achieved through economic growth, social progress and environmental protection in line with HSE standards,” he added.

Unified HSE Structure Communicated to Subsidiaries

Ghasemali Bazayi, head of organizational structure at NIOC, said the company has issued a unified organizational structure for HSE departments across its subsidiaries to ensure consistency. He also presented a report on the updated structures, while HSE chiefs from subsidiaries shared their challenges and management concerns.

At the end of the meeting, the HSE representative from the Pars Oil and Gas Company received an appreciation plaque for outstanding performance in the health category.