Safety Management Systems as communication in an oil and gas producing company

•The executives see the Safety Management System as important for safety.•The workers rather see their competence as more important for safety.•Human factors should be applied at an early phase in the development of procedures.•Management system should be analyzed as a part of the organization’s communication.•Training should focus on the meaning of the management system. An IT-based Safety Management System contains procedures, safety standards and checklists on how different tasks should be performed. Safety standards and work procedures designed at the executive level in the organization are communicated to the lower level in the organization where they are being applied. How is this information perceived and understood at the receiving end? This paper presents a case study of how managers (onshore and offshore) and operators at an offshore installation perceive and use the management system.