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EVENT ALERT: OPITO Safety and Competence Conference 2010

Wednesday, 25 August 2010 10:47

OPITO Safety and Competence Conference 2010

Thursday 25 November 2010
Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island
United Arab Emirates

 

Join us at this prestigious inaugural event in order to learn more about important new developments in the field of safety and competence standards in the oil and gas industry across the globe. The OPITO standards, qualifications and workforce development frameworks are driven by global industry demand and are currently used in 30 countries. This conference will offer you the opportunity to contribute to the continual evolution of world class industry practices that protect the workforce.

 

Who should attend:
OPITO International is a unique not for profit industry owned skills body. It works with Governments, national oil companies, multi-nationals and contractors to meet their skills needs and improve workforce safety and competence. If you lead on safety and competence and workforce developments within your own organisation, then this conference will be an important date in your diary.

 

Background on OPITO International:

OPITO International sets standards to improve workforce safety and competency in worldwide oil and gas provinces. OPITO provides independent advice and guidance on effective management of workforce skills development, emergency response and occupational standards, qualifications and quality assurance of training delivery.

 

OPITO is committed to improving safety and reducing risk for people, assets and companies in one of the most hazardous working environments. An independent study being launched at the conference will seek to identify good practice from around the world, highlight specific regional challenges, examine the barriers to effective and consistent training delivery and quantify the value to companies and the industry and how that value is being measured. This research, will cement the important work that OPITO is doing to help improve workplace safety and competence across the globe.


Delegates will learn more about:

• Cross industry learning and best practice
• New research commissioned by OPITO
• Case studies from the UK and overseas
• Keynote speech will be delivered by David Miller, the United Kingdom's Deputy Chief Inspector of Air Accidents and Deputy Head of the Department for Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)


The conference will also have an interactive element where delegates will be able to ask questions and discuss key points during two panel sessions.

A conference dinner including an Awards Ceremony for delegates will be held on the evening of 25 November. Please note that there is a small charge for attending the conference dinner, details are in the booking form.

 

Please download the following documents:

OPITO_OSSC_2010_Booking_form.pdf

OPITO_OSSC_2010_Programme.pdf

OPITO_Safety_and_Competence_Conference_2010_-_After_Dinner_Speaker_Biography.pdf

OPITO_Safety_and_Competence_Conference_2010_-_Keynote_Speaker_Biography.pdf

Accommodation option_1.doc  

_Accommodation option 2.doc

 

For further details please contact the Big Partnership: 

Call:     00 44 1224 615015

Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

   

Safe Driving at Work Standard Launched

Tuesday, 17 August 2010 09:46

Safe Driving at Work standard launched

- OPITO training aims to cut the number of driving deaths in the global oil and gas industry-

A new safety training and competence standard which aims to cut the number of deaths and injuries to oil and gas workers behind the wheel has been unveiled by industry standards setting body OPITO.

 

Driving related incidents are the single largest cause of fatalities among oil and gas producers. With an average 1.2million people killed and 50 million injured each year globally*, the World Health Organisation predicts road deaths will rise by 66% by 2020 as traffic volumes continue to increase around the world.

 

OPITO was asked by employers in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions to create a minimum training and competence  standard for workers required to drive as part of their job role.

 

Following a lengthy consultation process with employers and specialist training providers and a  successful pilot course at the Enertech Training Centre in Doha, Qatar, the Safe Driving at Work Standard has now been rolled out internationally.

 

OPITO International Managing Director, Ian Laing said: “The vast majority of reported road deaths take place in developing countries which account for over 85% of the overall figure however, of the numerous safety issues surrounding any upstream project, road safety is of paramount importance no matter which geographic region you are operating in.

 

“Roads to well sites are busy with traffic carrying equipment and workers and as risks to road safety become greater, oil and gas companies must look to eliminate all road traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities.

 

“The standard has been developed to reflect today’s working environment  and provide, for the first time, quality assured OPITO accredited training for those required to drive by their employers.

 

“In addition to improving the practical aspects of a driver’s ability, the training will also address the attitude and behaviour component of safe driving as driver attitude has been identified as one of the greatest influences in improving safety.”

 

It is hoped that the basic standard will be further developed in the future to encompass specialist standards for desert or off-road driving and transportation by heavy goods vehicles.

 

* Figures sourced from the Global Road Safety Partnership. Please note that these are the overall global figures for fatalities and injuries in driving incidents and are not specific to the oil and gas industry.

   

Find your career in Oil and Gas

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 15:34

Are you interested in pursuing a career in the Oil and Gas Industry? Are you unsure of where to start?

 

OPITO's City and Guilds approved Petroleum Open Learning modules provide a low cost, flexible way of tailoring your skills, knowledge and technical abilities for a career in Oil and Gas.

 

The open learning delivery enables you to decide where and when you study so you don't have to worry about travel and accommodation expenses or taking time away from work.

 

Fully recognised across the Oil and Gas industry as an approved qualification, POL could be your ticket to success in Oil and Gas.

 

For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit our POL website

   

EVENT ALERT: Exhibit your company at Energise your future Newcastle

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 12:21

 

EVENT ALERT: Exhibit your company at Energise your future Newcastle

OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy would like to invite your company to attend as exhibitors Energise Your Future being held at the Royal Marine Reserve Tyne, Anzio House, Quayside, Newcastle, NE6 1BU, on Thursday 30th September and Friday 1st October 2010.

The purpose of the event is to showcase the oil, gas and energy sectors as exciting and vibrant industries that offer real career opportunities to people now and into the future.

Senior pupils from the regions schools will attend 09.45 – 14.45 and a public session will be held from 15.30 – 18.00 on 30th September where University and College students, as well as additional school pupils attending with their parents can attend.  
We would like you there as exhibitors to provide insights into your world of work to help school pupils aged 15/18 make more informed choices when deciding upon their career.

A key to the success of previous events, and the part we wish to repeat, is the highly interactive nature of the exhibits provided by employers where pupils can get hands-on experience of the exciting and diverse industries we work in.

The event is FREE to exhibit to all oil, gas and energy companies.  We need you there to show the exciting areas of your business to the young people who will be your future workforce.

To secure a stand at the event or for further information please contact:

Diane Johnston
T: +44 (0) 1224 787805
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

   

EVENT ALERT: Exhibit your company at Energise your future Norwich

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 12:17

EVENT ALERT: Exhibit your company at Energise your future Norwich

 

OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy would like to invite your company to exhibit at Energise Your Future @ EAME ’10 to be held at the Hethel Engineering Centre, near Norwich on Wednesday 22nd  & Thursday 23rd September.

 

   

EVENT ALERT: Exhibit your company at Energise your future Aberdeen

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 00:00

 

Wednesday, 24th November 2010, Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre

OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy would like to invite your company to attend as exhibitors a careers event being held at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre, Aberdeen on Wednesday, 24th November 2010.

The purpose of the event is to showcase the oil, gas and energy sectors as exciting and vibrant industries that offer real career opportunities to people from the region now and into the future.

The event will be held at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre for invited school pupils from 10.00 – 14.30 on Wednesday 24th November 2010. A public session will be held from 15.00 – 18.00 where University and College students, as well as the general public, can attend.  The public session will be advertised as a career and lifestyle event, not a recruitment fair.

We would like to invite your company to attend as an exhibitor to provide insights into your world of work and to help school pupils aged 15/18 make more informed choices when deciding upon their career. The plan is to have around 400 invited pupils from Aberdeen City and Shire Schools and about 36 employers.

 

A key to the success of previous events, and the part we wish to repeat, was the highly interactive nature of the exhibits provided by employers where pupils could get hands-on experience of the exciting and diverse industries we work in. A number of stands were manned by younger employees who were given the task of designing the challenge; simplicity worked just as well as some of the more complex exhibits.

The exhibition is FREE to all oil, gas and energy companies in the region.  We need you there to exhibit and show the exciting areas of your business to the young people who will be your future workforce.

 

Some of the companies already signed up include:

OPITO - The Oil & Gas Academy

The Oil & Gas Academy PetroChallenge with Simprentis - Putting Energy Into Learning

Aker Solutions

AMEC

Wood Group

Weatherford

Fugro

GE Oil & Gas

ECITB

Maersk

Technip

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)

Craig Group

ABB Limited

Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen University

Ace Winches

Optimus Safety Management

Institute of Physics

Schlumberger Oilfield UK Plc


Should you wish to discuss any aspect of this event or to secure a place please do not hesitate to contact

 

Diane Johnston

Skills and Learning Development Co-ordinator 

(01224) 787 805

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Total secures OPITO approval

Wednesday, 07 July 2010 10:55

Total E&P UK Ltd first oil major to secure OPITO approval

for its Competency Management System

 

 

TOTAL E&P UK Ltd has become the first major oil and gas operator worldwide to achieve OPITO approval for its Competence Management System.

 

One of the largest operators in the UK sector of the North Sea, Total can now ensure through this approval from OPITO that their personnel on and offshore are performing their roles to best practice criteria.

 

Total’s Competency Assurance Management System (CAMS), which has been deployed on the Dunbar platform, is being rolled out to other sites. In addition to the CAMS approval OPITO, on the behalf of Total, are also auditing the competence of contractors employed by Total on its sites to ensure the same high quality performance across all operations.

 

The CAMS uses national occupational standards for process, process engineering maintenance and management roles, as well as newly formed discipline-specific competence standards for any additional tasks. Managed online, it provides Total with real-time monitoring of employees training and competency progress.

 

Total E&P UK Ltd, will receive official approval from OPITO’s Managing Director, David Binnie at a presentation in Aberdeen today (June 24).

 

“Maintaining and growing a skilled and competent workforce is vital to the ongoing success of the UK Continental Shelf.  CAMS is an important element of assuring that competence.  It is also a powerful tool for people development, enabling a clear focus for continuous improvement. The people in the UKCS are sought after across the world for their knowledge and expertise.  OPITO’s Competence Assurance approval process provides another clear demonstration of our commitment to maintain that position.

 

‘Core to OPITO’s business is to listen to industry needs and work in partnership to deliver powerful outcomes.  Our partnership with Total and this first phase project is a great example.  I look forward to the next phase and rolling out to others across the industry in the near future.’  ” said Mr Binnie.

 

“Through collaboration with OPITO’s team of approval experts we have succeeded in implementing a robust process which allows us to demonstrate the competency of our own personnel, identify the competency gaps and launch required training and coaching to close these gaps,” said Mr Blanchet, head of competency & audit at Total E&P UK Ltd.

 

“OPITO approval provides independent and world-wide recognition of the quality and effectiveness of CAMS and we are delighted to be the first major operator to have met the strict criteria and achieved this honour.”

 

For more information on achieving approval for your Competence Management System, contact Lisa Geddes This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

   

PetroChallenge - new dates added

Tuesday, 06 July 2010 15:32

Building on the success of last year’s event, the Academy will be holding PetroChallenge at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, on 7th and 8th September and are expanding the programme by planning a series of PetroChallenge events in a number of other areas around the UK on 13th and 14th December. The overall winner will represent the UK in the international final held in London in January 2011.

 

The Oil & Gas Academy PetroChallenge is an educational event which uses an innovative web-based learning tool which allows participants to act as energy companies looking for oil and gas in a fictitious province.

PetroChallenge provides participants with an interactive experience of the oil and gas industry. In this case, the participants simulate what it’s like to work for an oil company exploring for oil and gas in a remote, unspoilt region.

 

For more information on PetroChallenge and how you can take part contact Diane Johnston, Skills and Learning Development Co-ordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

   

Young Technician of the Year

Tuesday, 06 July 2010 14:12

OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy, is once again sponsoring the Oil and Gas UK Award for Young Technician of the Year. The award champions the vital contribution of our industry’s technicians. Last year’s winner was David Maxwell, production operations technician with Apache North Sea Ltd.

 

The Oil & Gas UK Awards celebrate the people and businesses currently making an exceptional contribution to our industry. They aim to recognise the wide range of achievements in the sector, both by individuals and companies, in terms of talent, commitment and entrepreneurial flair with a particular focus on the technical skills and the constructive collaboration which is needed to help the UKCS meet the challenges of the future.

 

The closing date for entries is August 6th 2010. Winners are to be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 4th November 2010.

 

For further information please contact Britta Hallbauer, Oil & Gas UK Media Relations   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

   

Industry Skills Agenda Energised

Thursday, 10 June 2010 13:46

OPITO conducted 50+ one-to-one interviews across the Oil and Gas Industry to identify the critical skills issues organisations are facing.

 

As a result:

  •  14 common challenges were identified

  

On 26th May, the reformed Industry Skills Forum met at OPITO’s offices in Portlethen to take action on common industry skills requirements.

 

  • 5 top priorities were agreed
  • 5 action groups were established to deliver solutions

 

 The core priorities are as follows:

 

Skills and Knowledge Retention

 

Early estimates suggest 30% of current industry workforce will reach retirement over the next 5-10 years. Critical knowledge and experience will be lost unless solutions are found to recycle expertise into crucial areas.

 

Workforce Planning

 

There is no holistic, quantitative view of industry skills requirements. Identifying skills needs in line with future industry activity will enable improved skills supply planning and competence development.  A robust process and tools will be developed to achieve this.

 

Technician Skills Development

 

Technological development will drive skills needs. Understanding the implications of this for the learning supply chain will enable improved technician capability.

 

Employability Skills

 

Typically it takes 4 years for a new industry entrant to become established. Improving behavioural skills pre-entry and better contextualising the academic curriculum will reduce this lead time.

 

Leadership and Performance Management

 

Realising the North Sea’s potential, demands greater innovative and entrepreneurial leadership. Finding inventive ways of sharing best practice across organisational boundaries will drive success.

 

Get Involved

 

Addressing these issues will make a fundamental difference to our industry. Membership of action groups is filling up, please get in touch if you wish to get involved in taking this forward.

 

For more information please contact:

 

Mike Duncan

Skills and Learning Development Director

(01224) 787 822

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