Meet Fettah Kherfi, HSE Officer, UAE

Fettah Kherfi’s journey in the energy sector has been marked by a series of significant milestones, collaborating with diverse teams, and a deep-rooted passion for the industry.

“I’m originally from Algeria, hailing from the vibrant town of Touggourt in the southeast. It's close to Hassi Messaoud, the heart of Algeria’s oil and gas industry. So growing up, working in energy was always a goal of mine as it’s essential for almost every aspect of our modern life,” says Fettah.

“I joined the company in 2014 as a field HSE coordinator in Algeria then later progressed to a QHSE coordinator working on various land drilling rigs.”

“As I climbed the career ladder, I wanted to broaden my horizons and I became curious about experiencing new cultures. I started exploring the possibility of working in a different country and as KCA Deutag is an international company with operations around the globe I saw an opportunity to make that ambition a reality,” he explains.

“So when a vacancy in the UAE came up on rig T264 for an HSE officer, I jumped at the chance.”

An international assignment

Fettah now works on a four week on, four week off rotation and travels back to his home in Algeria on his time off.

“I was provided with lots of support and resources to help me settle into working in the UAE. The whole team at rig T264 made me feel comfortable and I quickly adapted to my new environment,” he says.

“The experience not only allowed me to immerse myself in a new culture but also helped me develop a global perspective and enhance my skills. I’m learning a lot more about drilling and our industry and working with diverse teams across different regions has been incredibly rewarding, enriching both my personal and professional life.”

As an HSE officer on a rig of 140 crew, he’s kept busy.

“In my current role I’m responsible for the rig HSE activities like running reports, carrying out daily walkabouts, actively monitoring and auditing permits to work, leading safety meetings, taking care of emergency equipment, conducting emergency muster drills and making sure training for personnel is completed,” he says.

“I’m one of the first points of contact if an incident occurs. I’ll do a thorough investigation, report back any findings and communicate this with the rig team and leadership. I’ll also create learning bulletins to remind our crew of the correct and safe ways of working so similar events don’t happen again.”

Thriving in a safety-first environment

Fettah knows having a strong safety culture at work is critical where risk is significant, especially in drilling operations.

“I thrive on encouraging crews to have a safety-first mindset that builds trust and supports wellbeing. If we can get this right, it’s the fundamental cornerstone to productivity, performance and overall operational success. And I’m proud to be playing a part in that,” he says.

He’s excited for the future and looks forward to embracing the new opportunities that lie ahead.

“I'm really enjoying my new role. Every day brings fresh challenges that keep me engaged and motivated.”

“My plan is to keep growing professionally by building on my current skills and taking on new challenges, just like I did when I moved to a new rig site in a new country. My next aim is to develop my leadership skills and I’m so looking forward seeing where that journey might take me."

Are you interested in working for a global organisation with opportunities for growth and development like Fettah? Explore a career at KCA Deutag.