QISC first to deliver groundbreaking training initiative in Qatar
Qatar’s leading training provider, QISC has become the first company in Qatar to gain approval to deliver a groundbreaking new global training initiative for the oil and gas industry.
Qatar International Safety Centre (QISC), which provides innovative and tailored training solutions, has successfully met the criteria, set by International 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.
QISC, has two state of the art facilities in Qatar custom-built to train up to 1,130 oil and gas workers each month. The company boasts the highest number of OPITO accreditations in the world delivered by trained experts accredited with the highest level of certifications. The centre trains a multi-skilled workforce from around the world, in various languages including, Arabic, English, Hindi, and Indian.
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 QISC 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.
Andy Reid, business development manager at QISC, said: “As Qatar’s leading training provider, it was important for us to deliver the latest ground breaking safety standard to hit the market. Delivering IMIST courses helps us continue our goal of offering the highest quality training courses to the industry. Atlas’ approval provides independent and world-wide recognition of the quality of our delivery and we are delighted to be the first company in Qatar to meet the stringent criteria.
“As we continue to be innovative and proactive to meet our customers’ needs we welcome any new training that contributes to the health and safety of our customers throughout the industry.”
OPITO group chief executive David Doig said: “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 across the industry.”
Atlas chief executive John Rowley added: “We are delighted that QISC has become the first centre to gain approval in this key region. Using an invigilated environment to deliver IMIST ensures the online course is being delivered at the high level. 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.”
IMIST is being rolled out across 30 countries worldwide throughout Asia, Africa and the 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.
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