One common global standard to improve offshore safety
07 May 2010
Offshore safety around the world could be significantly improved and the industry could save millions if safety training is standardised, Opito claim.
The skills body is introducing MIST (Minimum Industry Safety Training) to the global oil and gas industry at OTC.
Basic safety knowledge and awareness offshore remain a worrying concern across the industry. Driven by the UK industry’s commitment to continually improve safety, MIST has been developed by Opito, employers and the offshore workforce to improve efficiency and standardise safety training across the UK Continental Shelf.
"The delivery and content of basic safety training varies dramatically from region to region and lacks consistency across the industry," said David Doig, CEO of Opito Group.
"Imagine the real step-change we would see if every worker offshore was trained to same high standards? Adopting common standards and engaging the essential support to apply them uniformly across the industry is a challenge, but Opito is up for it and believes the industry must be too. There is a huge prize to be won if the industry accepts the challenge and really wants to do something about safety.
"The Opito BOSIET standard (basic offshore safety induction and emergency training) is all about travelling to work safely and responding effectively to alarms. MIST is all about working safely in the workplace when you get there."
Opito is aiming to roll-out the concept of MIST across its existing networks in 30 countries. The organisation believes that it will demonstrate the industry’s commitment to make the offshore environment safer, give workers confidence that all their co-workers share the same level of safety training and reduce duplication of training.
The MIST standard ensures that trainees have the necessary safety awareness and training to avoid risk and ultimately incidents. It covers nine basic safety elements, including the core topics of risk assessment and permit to work, with new key safety awareness centred on mechanical lifting and platform integrity.
Doig added: "Already in the UK, MIST has brought a consistent approach to basic safety training where every person on board now has confidence that their fellow worker has the same level of safely skills and knowledge as they have. It has also greatly rationalised the myriad of induction programmes applied by specific employers and is quickly becoming an essential part of offshore training with the majority of employers having implemented their plans now."
Initial MIST training is delivered over two days however, every existing offshore worker in the UKCS is also undergoing refresher training which is carried out over the internet, saving industry and employers’ time and eliminating travel costs.
The technology underpinning MIST is an innovative diagnostic tool called Fast Track which works by assessing a learner’s knowledge gaps under time-bound conditions. The content of the course that is then delivered to the learner is based on their personal knowledge gaps thereby holding their interest and saving time by only delivering the training that is required.
The MIST programme is available as a two day Opito approved training course for workers new to the industry and in e-learning format for experienced workers to refresh their knowledge.
Opito aims to deliver common standards in the global oil and gas workforce that improve safety and competency.
The international organisation works with Governments, national oil companies, multi-nationals and contractors to meet their skills needs to provide independent advice and guidance on effective management of workforce skills development, emergency response and occupational standards and qualifications and quality assurance of training delivery.
Opito International has three business units focused on Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and the Americas with plans to establish new operations in 2011.
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