In its drive to improve and align safety and competence standards in the global oil and gas industry, OPITO International has commissioned a major research study.

The oil and gas training standards body has commissioned the Aberdeen Business School at Robert Gordon University in Scotland to undertake this pioneering research programme.

The focus of the research is to explore how internationalisation impacts on emergency response and basic safety training requirements in the industry. The research will inform OPITO’s work towards its goal of rolling out global standards for safety and competency that would ensure every worker, anywhere in the world is trained to the same standards.

OPITO is committed to improving safety and reducing risk for people, assets and companies in one of the most hazardous working environments.

The independent study 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.

“Recent events in the Gulf of Mexico serve as an on-going reminder that this industry operates in a highly challenging environment. Safety is paramount and the industry has a fundamental duty to make sure that its people are competent and trained to the best possible standards,” said David Doig, chief executive of OPITO International.

“Our aim is to achieve buy-in from the industry globally for one set of common standards to improve safety for every worker, no matter where they operate in the world.”

Rita Marcella, Dean of the Aberdeen Business School said: “This is an exciting research project and we are delighted to use our experience and expertise in the international oil and gas sector, along with independent, academic talent to deliver a study that will help OPITO understand the significance to companies of the development of international standards by which training may be bench-marked to assure capacity and competence are displayed by their workforce.”

Tags: OPITO