CAVU was proud to be represented at the 2026 IADC Drilling Caspian & Black Sea Conference, held 4–5 February in Baku, where industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of drilling safety, technology, and operational performance across the region.

As part of this year’s program, David Hazell, Senior Vice President at CAVU, was invited to speak on the highly anticipated panel:

Smart Safety in High-Risk Areas: AI, Data Analytics & Human Factors

This session brought together experts from across the drilling and wells community to explore how emerging technologies and human-centered strategies are reshaping the way organizations protect people in high-risk environments.

Advancing Smart Safety Through Human Performance

The panel examined cutting-edge approaches to improving safety in red zones, including:

• AI-driven monitoring and predictive analytics
• Smart planning tools and Red Zone Matrix applications
• Machine learning-enabled risk detection
• Behavioral safety principles and human factors engineering

The discussion reinforced an important theme: technology alone does not create safer operations — it is most powerful when paired with strong leadership, team engagement, and a culture that prioritizes learning and performance.

David brought CAVU’s Human Performance perspective to the conversation, emphasizing the role of leaders and frontline teams in translating data and tools into practical, everyday behaviors that reduce exposure and strengthen operational discipline.

A Strong Industry Dialogue

Moderated by Ilkin Huseynli (Caspian Drilling Company) and Lars Nydahl Jørgensen (IADC), the panel featured a range of operational viewpoints, including contributions from:

• Safa Gasimov, Tourpusher, Caspian Drilling Company
• Kamran Alasgarov, Senior Wells Engineer, bp
• David Hazell, Senior Vice President, CAVU

Together, the panelists explored how safety culture is evolving beyond compliance — toward a proactive, data-informed model that empowers teams and supports better decision-making in high-risk zones.

CAVU’s Continued Commitment to High-Risk Operations

CAVU is honored to contribute to these global conversations and to support clients operating in complex, high-consequence environments. Events like IADC Caspian highlight the importance of collaboration across industry, technology, and human performance disciplines.

We extend our thanks to IADC and the conference organizers for the opportunity to participate, and we look forward to continuing the work of advancing safety, leadership, and operational excellence worldwide.

Interested in learning more about CAVU’s work in Human Performance, coaching, and smart safety strategies? Get in touch with our team.

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