Vallourec has presented its Safety Awards 2025 to two exemplary operations that have demonstrated exceptional health and safety performance as part of the company’s CAP 2030 roadmap. The awards recognise the outstanding achievements of Vallourec Florestal in Brazil and the Vallourec Oil & Gas Uganda yard, reflecting the company’s global commitment to deploying safety standards strengthened by its “Together We’re Safer” health and safety culture.
The multinational steel pipe manufacturer emphasises that safety represents a fundamental prerequisite rather than an optional consideration across all operations. This philosophy underpins the company’s approach to recognising teams that have demonstrated exemplary safety performance through measurable results and cultural transformation.
Vallourec’s operations in Uganda achieved a remarkable milestone by completing 1,085 consecutive days without a single accident. Operating in a geographically and operationally complex environment, the Uganda team established a strong health and safety culture from the facility’s inception, setting high standards that distinguished it among Vallourec’s global network of plants and service centres.
Alejandro Baiz, global sales & operations optimisation, presented the award to the Uganda team, praising their unwavering commitment to safety, discipline, and teamwork. The recognition acknowledged the team’s ability to maintain exceptional safety standards while building operations under challenging conditions.
Erwan Le Gouadec, managing director of Vallourec Oil and Gas Uganda, emphasised the significance of the recognition for the team, noting that Uganda had set elevated safety standards from the beginning despite being a relatively modest operation compared to other Group sites. The achievement reflects the successful integration of safety protocols into every operational aspect.
Nicolas Incarnato, group vice president of health & safety, highlighted the team’s safety-first mindset and their success in building a site from scratch under challenging conditions. He commended their ability to embed safety into every action while maintaining a clearly visible culture of continuous improvement that extends beyond mere compliance to encompass leadership excellence and operational mindset.
Vallourec Florestal in Brazil received its Safety Award 2025 based on outstanding health and safety performance evaluated through multiple criteria, including safety results, prevention performance indicators, standards implementation, and qualitative assessment conducted by an evaluation jury. All assessment criteria aligned with the company’s CAP 2030 roadmap objectives.
Bertrand Frischmann, group chief operations officer, presented the award to André Dezanet, general manager of Vallourec Florestal, during the 2nd Accident Prevention Plan Meeting in Curvelo, Minas Gerais. The recognition followed a period of significant transformation in the Brazilian operation’s safety culture.
After experiencing challenging times, the Florestal team implemented a comprehensive transformation of its safety culture through strong leadership and renewed commitment. Nicolas Incarnato noted that the team made a bold decision to elevate their safety performance, resulting in visible progress, undeniable momentum, and a culture that embraces safety as a continuous journey rather than a destination.
The transformation achieved by Vallourec Florestal has positioned the Brazilian unit as a global reference for health and safety within the Group, reinforcing its commitment to operational excellence and employee welfare. The recognition demonstrates how organisations can successfully transform safety cultures through dedicated leadership and systematic implementation of improved practices.
Both award-winning teams exemplify Vallourec’s “Together We’re Safer” culture, having achieved significant step changes in safety performance during the previous year. Their achievements demonstrate that effective safety management extends beyond rule compliance to encompass leadership, mindset, and collective responsibility across all organisational levels.
The recognition of these two geographically diverse operations underscores Vallourec’s global commitment to safety excellence while highlighting how different teams can achieve outstanding results through tailored approaches that address their specific operational contexts and challenges.
Vallourec’s Safety Awards 2025 celebrate achievements that inspire continued excellence across all company sites, reinforcing the principle that safety excellence requires consistent commitment, strong leadership, and a culture that prioritises employee welfare alongside operational performance.
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