Côte D’Ivoire invests in oil and gas safety training

Côte D'Ivoire invests in standardised safety training

Côte D’Ivoire is experiencing growth in its oil and gas industry and, as a result, the country has invested heavily in standardised safety training in the region, according to learning technologies company, Atlas Knowledge.

Heightened use of International Minimum Industry Safety Training standard

The use of OPITOs International Minimum Industry Safety Training (IMIST) standard in both Côte D’Ivoire and across the world has risen in recent years, such that it now accounts for almost 15% of the worldwide total.

Launched in 2011, the IMIST standard was developed to provide a consistenty high level of health and safety training for 1.5 million people involved in the oil and gas exploration and production activities. Moreover, it is designed to ensure that workers have the necessary safety awareness and training to reduce risk and ultimately reduce the number of incidents.

Altas delivering OPITO training standard worldwide

The IMIST programme is exclusive to Atlas and selected IMIST invigilation centres worldwide. Atlas and its partners are delivering the standard across 48 countries, in 12 languages.

Prometric Engineering and Inspection Services is Atlas’ IMIST affiliate partner in Côte D’Ivoire, a service that has allowed over 1500 workers complete their training. The country is continuing to invest in its workforce and raising standards of training as part of the drive towards its goal of producing 200 000 boe/d by 2020, three times more than the current 60 000 boe/d.

Rise in exploration and production matched by expansion in skills

Kevin Short, Commercial Director of Atlas Knowledge, said: “A modest oil producer since the 1980s, the country (Cote d’Ivoire) is potentially on the cusp of major activity with a number of discoveries in recent years and further exploration underway in the deep and ultra-deepwaters off the west coast. Early in the process it recognised the need for trained, skilled oil and gas workers in order to maximise the burgeoning industry’s potential.”

Managing Director, Mohamed Nehme said: “The significant rise in exploration and production activity we have seen in the last three years is matched by the massive expansion in skills and labour development. We are committed to providing quality training for the Ivorian workforce and IMIST is an important element of assuring a common standard of competency for the local workforce regardless of which region they are operating in.”

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/30072015/cote-d-ivoire-invests-in-oil-and-gas-safety-training/