Oil and Gas Industry Skills Body Unveils Groundbreaking Safety Initiative

ABU DHABI, UAE, July 17, 2011 -

Oil and gas workers in the Middle East will today (July 17) be
the first in the world to access a groundbreaking new global
training initiative developed to drastically improve safety
standards for the global offshore workforce.

Senior representatives from oil companies in the region will
attend a briefing to hear how the International Minimum Industry
Training Standard (IMIST) will ensure workers have the safety
knowledge and training to understand and avoid hazards.

IMIST has been developed by oil and gas training standards body
OPITO International. It brings, for the first time, a standardised
level of basic safety training to an estimated 460,000 people in
the Middle East.

It will be delivered in partnership with international learning
and skills provider Atlas Interactive via e-learning and tailored
to meet each region’s specific workforce, language and geographic
needs.

“The tragedy that was Macondo has shaken the sector and put the
spotlight firmly back on safety and workforce competence. While
there is a level of knowledge and good practice within the existing
workforce there is a clear desire in the industry for uniformity
when it comes to the safety and competency of its people,” said
David Doig, OPITO Group Chief Executive.

“Delivery and content of training has varied dramatically from
region to region and lacks consistency. IMIST sets a new common
standard to ensure that everyone, regardless of role or discipline,
has the same basic safety understanding.”

IMIST will be applied to the current workforce and all new
entrants to the industry. The course assesses basic safety
knowledge in nine subject areas including risk assessment, the use
of hazardous substances, working at height and mechanical lifting
among other subjects.

John Rowley, chief executive officer of Atlas Interactive said:
“Each country has its own distinct needs and IMIST provides the
platform for increasing the performance of the national workforce
whilst ensuring a standardised playing field in terms of safety and
competency.”

The briefing will take place at Le Royal Meridien, Abu Dhabi,
from 12-2pm.

IMIST will be rolled out across 30 countries worldwide
throughout Asia, Africa and the United States over the next two
years.

Issued by The BIG Partnership. Contact Laura Grant on +44-1224-615010 or +44-7813-880496