Lord Cullen to Speak at Second Annual Safety and Competence Conference

OPITO Conference to Focus on Competency Over Compliance

LONDON, May 2, 2011 - OPITO is today announcing its second annual safety and competence
conference for the global oil and gas industry. OSCC 2011, which will be held
on 22nd of November 2011 in Abu Dhabi, will examine the issues around
competence over compliance.

The one day event will focus on how the industry can develop a more
competent workforce that significantly improves safety rather than one which
simply complies with legislation and best practice.

The keynote speaker for the event, which aims to attract upwards of 300
delegates from around the world, is Lord Cullen, author of the Cullen Report,
an outcome of the Piper Alpha tragedy.

He will be joined by a panel of senior industry figures, including Billy
Mitchell, global competence assurance manager for Transocean, to debate the
issue around achieving real competence in the workforce.

David Doig, OPITO group chief executive, said: "The aim is to build on
last year's successful event with a range of high profile speakers and
interactive debate on a subject that remains a continual challenge. More than
ever our industry has to step up to the challenge of driving a step-change in
safety. This will only be achieved if we truly understand competency and how
we make our employees competent. This is not about ticking the right boxes
but about driving real competence through relevant training and the best
industry standards."

OSCC was introduced last year as an annual event to bring operators,
contractors and the supply chain together with training organisations to
provide a forum for improving standards of safety and competency that protect
the workforce and the industry's reputation.

The conference offers the opportunity to contribute to the continual
evolution of world-class industry practices and standards.

OPITO International delivers standards to improve workforce safety and
competency at a global level with three business units focused on Asia
Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and the Americas. The 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.

Issued on behalf of OPITO International by The BIG Partnership. For more
information contact Zoe Corsi on +44(0)1224-615014 or +44(0)7973983243

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