Energy Club WA is pleased to recognise Richard Taylor, HSE Manager at SLB, as the recipient of the Award for Field Team Excellence, celebrating leadership that delivers meaningful, on‑the‑ground impact for people, safety and culture across the energy sector.
Richard leads SLB’s HSE team across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Timor‑Leste, with a clear focus on the realities of frontline work. His approach centres on early intervention, open engagement and the effective use of data to inform decision‑making.
Richard said the award is “a strong recognition of the work we have put in place as a team, and of the consistency in how we approach HSE across our operations,” reinforcing that the recognition belongs to the broader SLB HSE team.
A defining element of this work has been the rollout of SLB’s Live Well program, a preventative, whole‑of‑person approach to wellbeing that spans physical health, mental health and psychosocial safety. Delivered through health training, medical screening, mental health resources, nutritional guidance and digital health tools, the program is fully embedded into day‑to‑day operations, rather than treated as a standalone initiative.
The impact has been measurable. Health screening campaigns have supported early medical intervention, while wellbeing initiatives such as Unlock Your Power have reported a 22% reduction in stress among participants. The program has also contributed to a more open culture, where conversations around mental health are normalised and individuals feel psychologically safe at work.
Richard noted this shift in workplace conversations has been one of the most meaningful changes. He shared, “We are now having more open and constructive discussions with our employees, who can clearly see and appreciate the investment being made. There is a stronger level of engagement and understanding around why we are doing this.”
Proactive, data‑driven approaches have been central to the SLB HSE team’s success under Richard’s leadership. Australia’s first wearable hydration monitoring trial in the oil and gas sector was introduced to address heat stress risks in high‑temperature environments. Over the 12‑week trial, no heat stress cases were recorded among participants, despite heat‑related incidents occurring elsewhere in the region during the same period.
Technology has also been applied to everyday safety challenges. Camera analytics and AI-enabled forklift systems have been trialled to identify PPE non-compliance, unsafe behaviours and pedestrian proximity risks in real time, allowing teams to intervene earlier and reduce reliance on manual observation alone.
Richard has placed equal emphasis on psychosocial safety and inclusion. The launch of SLB’s first Psychosocial Safety Survey was followed by focus groups, risk assessments and a phased audit program. Mental Health First Aiders have been introduced across facilities, alongside immersive VR training on bias and discrimination, strengthening awareness and support at all levels of the workforce.
Looking forward, Richard is motivated by the opportunity to continue improving safety performance at an industry level.
“We come from a background where incidents, including serious ones that resulted in permanent or disabling injuries or fatalities, were sadly too frequent occurrences,” said Richard. “Today, with the right use of technology and a stronger focus on behaviours, we have the opportunity to significantly change that. I believe we can position ourselves as a leader across sectors by continuing to raise standards and challenge what has historically been accepted.”
Richard also emphasises the importance of strong, empowered teams in delivering sustainable outcomes.
“To achieve sustainable success, you need to build a strong team and empower them. Support from leadership is critical, and trust plays a key role in enabling people to perform and take ownership. While not every initiative delivers the expected outcome, what matters is how we respond, continue to innovate and keep pushing forward.”
Through his leadership of the SLB HSE team, Richard Taylor has demonstrated what field team excellence looks like in practice: practical, data-driven and people-centred. His work continues to set a strong example for the energy industry and reflects the values recognised by this award.