One of Diversified Energy Company’s core tenets is to “Be Where Your Feet Are,†a motto that reminds employees to remain focused on the task at hand and ensure safety for workers and the communities in which the organization operates.
Central to this mindset is accountability, which company officials explained is not about taking blame, but recognizing that every action and decision an employee makes contributes to DEC’s overall success.
This, officials said, creates a “ripple effect†across the organization, fostering a workforce dedicated to responsibility and ensuring the company, employees and surrounding communities thrive.
The principle is also reflected at the operational level. When workers in all roles put forth their best effort and take ownership of their duties, it results in smoother operations and contributes to a positive work culture.
Diversified Energy Environmental Health & Safety’s Paul Espenan said the tenet is expanded further within the company’s “Be Where Your Boots Are†safety culture, which promotes the well-being of employees above all else.
“Each of us has something waiting for us at the end of the day,†Espenan said. “There will always be somebody counting on us to get things right. The community is also counting on us to get things right, so that motivates us to operate at a level where we don’t compromise safety because of what’s at stake. …
“That’s the main motivator of our mindset. We have to do the absolute right thing in each case because so many people are counting on us to do that.â€
Espenan said the modern world is full of distractions, and the motto of being where one’s boots are is a call for mindfulness.
He explained that employees must focus their minds on the tasks in front of them. While that can be a big ask, the company teaches operators methods of focusing through breathing and meditation.
“If you feel like your mind is elsewhere, we ask you to close your eyes for a minute and breathe,†Espenan said. “You’ll regain your mental ability to focus on your task just with that simple act, and you’ll be able to perform at a level that you otherwise weren’t able to do.
“Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Today, I’m going to go out and get hurt.’ They say the opposite. It’s never their intention to do something wrong. It’s because they got distracted, so we try to give them tools to stay focused.â€
“Be Where Your Boots Are†doesn’t just apply to on-site safety for employees working on wells. Given that driving from site to site is a large part of many DEC employees’ jobs, Espenan said safety behind the wheel is also paramount.
“We think that in a given day, one of the biggest hazards our operatives face is vehicles,†he said. “We bring that motto to how we drive, and we give great recognition to our drivers who complete a safe year.â€
While “Be Where Your Boots Are†covers on-the-job safety, Espenan said it equally applies to ensuring the communities where DEC works are cared for.
Perhaps the core program DEC promotes to support job site and community safety is called “A Good Catch.†Espenan explained that DEC workers are asked to share things they see that could have gone wrong but didn’t—thanks to employees’ focus and mindfulness.
Each year, the company recognizes employees who report the “best catches.â€
“We learn from that,†Espenan said. “A lot of times, these catches that come in are community-related. One of our winners was somebody driving by a home in winter and saw someone in their yard, just laying there. The employee thought that was odd, and because they had been trained to pay attention, stopped and went to this person’s yard and found out it was an elderly person who slipped and fell.
“The employee helped them up and got them taken care of. If they hadn’t been paying attention to their surroundings, looking for these good catches and acting on them, that employee might not have saved this person’s life.â€
While that’s an extreme example of the Good Catch program, Espenan said it’s a testament not only to DEC’s commitment to safety and mindfulness, but to its employees’ drive to be good citizens and neighbors.
“Last year, we received numerous good catches,†Espenan said. “My guess is a good percentage of those are related to something that happened in the community, a motorist who was stranded or someone who had an accident who we helped. ‘Being where your boots are’ is something we do to be present everywhere.â€
