Falck first to deliver groundbreaking training initiativein the Middle East
Falck Safety Services has become the first company in the Middle East to gain approval to deliver a groundbreaking new global training initiative for the oil and gas industry.
The safety training provider's Abu Dhabi centre is the first to
meet the stringent criteria set by learning and skills specialist
Atlas to invigilate the International Minimum Industry Safety
Training (IMIST) e-learning programme, a global initiative
developed to drastically improve safety standards for the offshore
workforce worldwide.
Developed by global oil and gas training standards body OPITO
International, IMIST online is delivered in partnership with Atlas
via approved invigilation centres only.
The Falck centre, in Musaffa industrial city, has the capacity to
offer training to around 1,300 oil workers each month. With an
estimated 460,000 people in the Middle East currently employed in
exploration and production activities, the centre is expected to be
used by companies across the region.
IMIST brings for the first time a standardised level of basic
safety training to an estimated 1.5million oil and gas workers
worldwide. The training, which was launched in the Middle East in
July, assesses basic safety knowledge in nine subject areas
including risk assessment, asset integrity, the use of hazardous
substances, working at height and mechanical lifting among other
subjects.
By gaining Atlas approval to deliver the course, workers using the
Falck centre will have their IMIST training accepted by employers
all over the world. It will also reduce the burden of training
costs for companies with both new entrants and experienced workers
able to undergo a full range of mandatory and voluntary health and
safety courses under one roof.
Tahnoon Karim, UAE business development manager at Falck Safety
Services, said: "As the largest offshore training safety provider,
it was important for us to be the first centre to offer this
groundbreaking training. Atlas' approval provides independent and
world-wide recognition of the quality of our delivery and we are
delighted to be the first company to have met the criteria and
achieved this honour.
"A key regional centre, the facility in Abu Dhabi will provide
companies operating across the Middle East with a time and
cost-effective way of accessing the new IMIST course and a wide
range of other industry health and safety training, ensuring the
workforce is best equipped to operate in the safest and most
efficient way possible."
OPITO group chief executive David Doig said the accreditation was
the first step towards raising the bar on safety and workforce
competency globally.
"IMIST is an important element of assuring a common standard of
competency and this accreditation is a clear step forward towards
achieving a step-change in the health and safety culture of the
Middle East and meeting the target of reducing risk and making sure
workers can return home safe at the end of each day."
Atlas chief executive John Rowley added: "There has been a great
deal of interest from training providers who want to deliver this
groundbreaking global safety standard in their centres around the
world. Using an invigilated environment ensures the online course
is being delivered at the high level the industry demands and we
are delighted that Falck has become the first centre to gain
approval in this key region."
IMIST is being rolled out across 30 countries worldwide throughout
Asia, Africa and North America over the next two years. It will be
delivered via e-learning and tailored to meet each region's
specific workforce, language and geographic needs.
Ends.
Notes to editors: