The Important Consideration of Risk to Operational Success

Thursday, May 07, 2009

International security and risk mitigation company AKE is at OTC in Houston this week to highlight the important consideration of risk in all its forms to operational success. 

While the focus of the conference is undoubtedly technology, the companies and individuals exhibiting and participating at OTC are deploying staff or themselves travelling to some of the world’s most challenging operational environments in terms of security and political risk, climatic extremes and medical concerns.

This week alone, security incidents affecting the international energy industry include the release of a Scotsman held by militants in the Niger Delta, attacks against two export pipelines in northern Iraq, a foiled attack on a Norwegian tanker in the Gulf of Aden, an increased risk of instability in Yemen and threats by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta to attack vessels on the Atlantic fringe of Bayelsa – and this can by no means be classified as a ‘busy’ week in terms of security.

Tim Crockett, Executive Director of AKE LLC commented that:

“As a company we work closely with our energy sector clients providing them with a range of services from country intelligence, training, security, medical and crisis management and even insurance.  We are well aware that the industry has worked in extreme environments for over 100 years now; however, the changing nature of the threats posed, corporate legislation, duty of care and perception of risk have all combined to make the services we provide an essential and cost-saving consideration.”

During times of heightened concern for the safety and security of the industry’s personnel as engendered by the fear of a potential swine-flu pandemic, companies need to address risk in a fully integrated fashion.  Comprehensive crisis management planning, for example, can and, in fact, should incorporate medical and security concerns.  Health risks will come and go and change, as more traditional security challenges do.”

Source: AKE Group