Explore Ashok Kumar Singh's Extensive Experience
A Detailed Account of his track record and key achievements
From Industry Leader to Consultant
of experience, 10+ refineries, clients
After a distinguished career within major organizations, I transitioned to independent consulting to directly apply my extensive experience to a wider range of clients. This allows me to provide tailored solutions and dedicated support, helping organizations of all sizes achieve their fire and safety goals.
My Core Consulting Strengths
Key Areas of Expertise
Drawing upon decades of experience, my core expertise encompasses a comprehensive range of fire and safety domains:
(Hover/ click on each tile below to know more)
HSE and Fire Audit
HSE and Fire Audit
Comprehensive audits to ensure compliance, identify risks, and improve overall safety performance based on years of practical experience in diverse industrial settings.
Fire Risk & Load Study
Fire Risk & Load Study
Thorough analysis to understand potential fire hazards and develop effective risk mitigation strategies, informed by extensive work in high-risk environments like refineries.
Fire & Life Safety Audit
Fire & Life Safety Audit
Ensuring the safety of personnel and assets through detailed evaluations of fire protection systems and life safety measures, honed through years of on-the-ground assessments.
Fire & Accident RCA
Fire & Accident RCA
Expert investigation into incidents to determine root causes and implement preventative actions, drawing upon a long career of analyzing and learning from real-world events.
Process Safety Management
Process Safety Management
Implementing and improving systems to prevent catastrophic incidents in process industries, leveraging in-depth knowledge gained from years in operational and management roles.
ERDMP & Mock Drills
ERDMP & Mock Drills
Expertise in emergency response planning and execution, including conducting realistic drills and compliance audits as per PNGRB standards.
Behaviour Based Safety
Behaviour Based Safety
Promoting a safety-conscious culture by focusing on human factors and behaviours, developed through years of leading and training teams in safety-critical environments.
Safety & Process Training
Safety & Process Training
Developing and delivering engaging training programs to build competence and awareness in fire, safety, and process safety principles.
Explore my detailed experience in these areas and discover how I can bring this expertise to your organization.
From Industry Leader to Consultant
Empowering Clients Through Independent Consulting
After a distinguished career within major organizations like IndianOil and KNPC (as detailed in my professional experience timeline), I transitioned to independent consulting to directly apply my extensive, hands-on experience to a wider range of clients.
This allows me to provide tailored solutions and dedicated support, helping organizations of all sizes achieve their fire and safety goals. My background in managing safety across refineries and various industrial settings provides a strong foundation for my current consulting work, where I’ve recently supported projects in the following sectors:
Steel, Power, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals
FMCG & Automobiles
Hotels and Malls
Garment Exports
Interested in the specific services I offer? Explore how I can help.
Significant Tenures Shaping My Expertise
Building a Foundation: Key Companies in My Career
Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited
Gujarat Refinery Indian Oil
Mathura Refinery Indian Oil
Guwahati Refinery Indian Oil
Kuwait National Petroleum Company MAA
Kuwait National Petroleum Company MAB
Kuwait National Petroleum Company SHU
Barauni Refinery Indian Oil
Panipat Refinery Indian Oil
Professional Experience
May 2017 - Mar 2021
Gujarat Refinery, IOCLGeneral Manager
- Led 13.7 MMTPA capacity, Gujarat refinery for F&S function with HSE reporting to Executive Director
- Foresaw updation of statutory licenses, issue and audit certifications
- Obtained PESO approvals
- Facilitated step change improvement – HSE performance through leadership interventions
- Initiated new safety mechanisms like 3H (Hard Hat Hours), hot job monitoring matrix, etc
Jul 2014 - May 2017
Gujarat Refinery, IOCLDeputy General Manager
- Positioned as the head of Fire & Safety department of Gujarat Refinery
- Recruitment of fire engineers for all divisions and fire-fighting operations
- Designed and built a model fire training ground for imparting live fire training to staff
- Constructed a safety park and a fire equipment museum for training and awareness
Jul 2012 - Jun 2014
Gujarat Refinery, IOCLChief Manger
- Managed a team of 75 professionally trained fire operators and engineers
- Conducted mock drills in plant on real failure situations
- Head the Off-site industrial emergency control room, reporting to state Govt District Collector, Vadodara District
- Guided restoration work through tank evacuation and continuous gas monitoring during Hazira storage tank fire disaster of 2013
Jul 2007 - Jun 2012
Mathura Refinery, IOCLChief Manager
- Acted as HOD of 8.24 MMTPA Mathura Refinery in Uttar Pradesh
- Led and professionally trained a team of 30 fire operators and 10 engineers on industry best practices and new innovations
- Ensured timely maintenance and testing of fire systems for reliability and 100% availability
- Upgraded and adopted new technologies in F&S to remain industry leader
- Published fire safety journals and bulletins for employee’s awareness
- Handled one of the major tank fire disasters in Oct 2010 at Jaipur in IOCL marketing terminal where 122 tanks were burnt out and 10 casualties happened
May 2003 - Jun 2007
Guwahati Refinery, IOCLSenior Manager
- Acted as HOD of 3.0 MMTPA Guwahati Refinery in Assam
- Managed environmental monitoring stations, effluent discharge testing and reporting, fire & safety systems, portable and fixed gas detectors and fire protection systems
- Worked as a tech expert for disaster management core group of Assam District
- Extended onsite response (monitoring safety) via IAF helicopter aid in Jatinga Assam where 29 Naphtha Rail wagons overturned and caught fire in access-limited forest terrain
May 2000 - May 2003
Barauni Refinery, IOCLSafety Manager
- Liaised with district administration and state fire brigade on all affairs of refinery fire safety and system maintenance
- Coordinated the safety management and accident prevention expansion project for FCCU, ETP, SRU, GDS, Sulphur palletizer and packaging unit, DHDS, storage tanks, off-site piping and acid flare
- Organized 5 Star safety management audit by British Safety Council, UK and brought Sword of honor for refinery
- Mentored F&S teams of 9 refineries for establishing a sound safety management system and changing work culture towards zero accidents
Apr 1996 - May 2000
Mina Abdulla Refinery, KNPCSafety Engineer
- Deputed by GOI to collaborate with KNPC for 4 years
- Monitored and assisted operations and maintenance groups for safe operations of new and old process plants
- Advised operations on procuring safety work permits
- Published F&S Bulletins for all three refineries of KNPC - MAA, MAB and SHU refineries.
- Handled General Refinery Turn Around activities (GRTA) and was awarded best safety engineer by KNPC Management
- Recruited contractual safety officers/supervisors and trained Kuwaiti Engineers
May 1995 - Apr 1996
Panipat Refinery, IOCLDeputy Manager
- Initiated and established F&S department at 15 MMPTA grass root refinery
- Prepared specifications and procured fire tenders and equipment for fire station and electrical substations
- Monitored safety activities of construction site having more than 10000 contract workers and imparted them safety awareness
Mar 1990 - May 1995
Barauni Refinery, IOCLSenior Fire & Safety Officer
- Maintained and calibrated fire fighting equipment and gas detectors
- Provided classroom training to employees and contract operators
- Coordinated with statutory bodies and pollution control boards
Feb 1986 - Mar 1990
Barauni Refinery, IOCLFire & Safety Officer
- Single point of contact for incident reporting and investigation etc.
- Procured firefighting chemicals and supported in safety inventor
Feb 1985 - Feb 1986
Barauni Refinery, IOCLGraduate Engineer Trainee
- Gained hands-on expertise on refinery process hazards and developed study reports for functional and non-functional areas (technical and non-technical)
- Undertook LOAD program after 2 months orientation and familiarization program conducted by senior faculties
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Discuss How My Expertise Can Help You
Benefit from of hands-on experience. Contact me to explore how my journey and insights can contribute to your organization's fire and safety success.