World’s largest privately owned oil and gas company adopts OPITO IMIST ONLINE

LUKOIL is currently implementing oil & gas exploration and production (E&P) projects across 12 countries and IMIST Online has just been adopted for roll out to their E&P workers in Iraq, with the goal of ensuring the highest of safety standards in this country.

Developed by global oil and gas training standards body OPITO International and delivered in partnership with Atlas via approved invigilation centres, 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 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.

Andrey Naumov, Director of HR and Organisational development LUKOIL, said: “We are committed to rolling out this common safety standard to our workforce in Iraq. It is important for LUKOIL to invest in the safety of our employees and workforce competency plays an integral role in ensuring not only that our operations are carried out in a safe and controlled manner, but that our company has the properly skilled and capable people in place to correctly identify and avoid risk.

Anton Gakhov, Head of Learning and Development LUKOIL, comments: “LUKOIL has been working closely with Atlas to identify an appropriate training curriculum for our workforce in Iraq. OPITO IMIST Online forms a major part of our blended learning programme to ensure we are fully compliant and performing safely in operations.”

Iain Laing, Managing Director OPITO International, said: “IMIST is an important element of assuring a consistent standard of competency across the global oil and gas industry. LUKOIL’s commitment is a clear step forward towards achieving a step-change in the health and safety culture across the industry.”

John Rowley, CEO Atlas said, “We are delighted that LUKOIL has adopted IMIST Online for their Iraq operations. This affirms their commitment to safety, helping to set the standard for safe operations in this country. The industry takes health and safety very seriously and puts a lot of time and money behind constant improvements. IMIST Online has the potential to not only help individual businesses improve their own efficiency, but also the industry overall by enhancing the skills set of the transient workforce, making a significant contribution towards meeting one of the prime strategic needs of the modern-day industry: to take every opportunity to underpin health and safety performance and minimise accidents.”

IMIST Online, which was launched in the Middle East in July 2011, is being rolled out across 30 countries worldwide including Asia, Africa and North America over the next two years. It is delivered via e-learning and can be tailored to meet each region’s language needs. It is currently available in 6 languages including Arabic; American and UK English, Hindi and Bahasa Malaysian. Additional languages, including Bahasa Indonesian, French, Thai and Vietnamese will be available soon.

Ends.

Notes to Editors: 

LUKOIL is one of the world's biggest vertically integrated companies for production of crude oil & gas, and their refining into petroleum products and petrochemicals. The Company is a leader on Russian and international markets in its core business.

OPITO is the oil and gas industry’s focal point for skills, learning and workforce development. Its focus is to deliver initiatives and activities which ensure a competent and safe workforce supply for industry both now and in the future. With over 30 years of experience, OPITO currently operates in 32 countries around the world with offices in Aberdeen, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and most recently, Houston USA.