Shell is one of the world’s largest and most influential energy companies and has played a foundational role in the development of dropped object prevention practices across the global oil and gas industry. With operations spanning upstream, downstream, and integrated energy projects, Shell has long recognised dropped objects as a high-potential safety hazard and has consistently invested leadership attention, technical resources, and industry collaboration to address this risk.
From the early days of the Dropped Object Prevention Scheme (DROPS), Shell was an active and influential participant. The company was involved in the original DROPS workgroup and has remained a core contributor as the initiative expanded from a North Sea–focused collaboration into a global safety movement. Shell’s involvement has extended across multiple regional chapters, where it has supported governance, shared operational experience, and helped align best practices across geographies.
Shell was instrumental in the founding of the DROPS Asia chapter in 2009. At a time when DROPS was still gaining momentum outside Europe, Shell’s regional leadership and active participation helped establish credibility and early engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. Shell personnel were directly involved in shaping the chapter’s early direction, contributing technical expertise and helping to establish the first regional forums and seminars. This early leadership laid the groundwork for DROPS Asia to develop into a mature and active chapter supporting operators, contractors, and service companies across the region.
Since the chapter’s formation, Shell has remained deeply engaged with DROPS Asia. Shell representatives have delivered numerous presentations at DROPS Asia forums, workshops, and seminars, sharing lessons learned from global operations and reinforcing the importance of systematic dropped object prevention. These presentations have covered topics such as dropped object classification, hazard identification, inspection regimes, red zone management, and leadership behaviours. Through consistent participation, Shell has helped embed DROPS principles into regional operational practice rather than treating them as standalone safety initiatives.
One of Shell’s most recent conceptual contributions to the DROPS community is the distinction between “fail-safe” and “fail-lucky.” Shell has repeatedly emphasised that when a dropped object does not result in injury, this should not automatically be considered a success. A fail-lucky outcome means that harm was avoided by chance, not by design. Shell has used this concept in forums and training sessions to reinforce the need for engineered and procedural barriers that ensure work systems fail safely, regardless of luck or timing. This thinking has strongly influenced how DROPS members assess near misses and high-potential incidents.
Shell has also been a major contributor to the development of practical DROPS tools. Notably, Shell was involved in the creation of the original DROPS calculator, a tool designed to help classify dropped object severity based on mass and drop height. The calculator provided a simple, consistent method for assessing potential energy and consequence, supporting better decision-making around red zones, exclusion areas, and control measures. Over time, this calculator became a widely adopted industry reference and remains a core DROPS resource today.
A defining feature of Shell’s approach to dropped object prevention is its focus on systematic risk management rather than isolated controls. Shell has long promoted clear red zone definitions, strict control of suspended loads, structured inspection programmes, and robust secondary retention of equipment and tools at height. These principles were embedded in Shell’s internal dropped object prevention campaigns and then shared openly with the wider industry through DROPS presentations and guidance. As a result, many of these practices are now standard across drilling and offshore operations globally.
Shell’s leadership has also extended into contractor engagement. Recognising that dropped object risks are shared across the supply chain, Shell has consistently emphasised alignment between operator and contractor safety systems. Through DROPS forums and Shell-led presentations, the company has advocated for common standards, joint audits, and shared learning, helping to drive improvements beyond Shell-operated assets.
Beyond Asia, Shell has supported and influenced multiple DROPS chapters worldwide. The company has contributed speakers, subject-matter experts, and leadership input to regional initiatives in Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Shell has also supported global DROPS coordination by contributing resources and sponsorship that enable consistent communication and collaboration between chapters.
Shell’s involvement with DROPS reflects a broader safety philosophy that prioritises the prevention of high-potential incidents. By treating serious near misses with the same attention as actual accidents, Shell has reinforced the importance of learning before harm occurs. This philosophy aligns closely with the objectives of DROPS and has helped shift industry focus toward proactive, prevention-led safety management.
Today, Shell remains one of the most influential members of the DROPS community. Its contributions span governance, technical development, thought leadership, and education. Through its role in founding DROPS Asia, supporting global chapters, developing key tools, and consistently sharing operational experience, Shell has helped shape how dropped object risks are understood and managed across the industry. For DROPS Asia members, Shell represents both the historical foundation of the chapter and an ongoing commitment to raising standards and preventing dropped object incidents worldwide.