The global oil and gas industry is still not as safe as it should be despite improvements in the Middle East, industry skills body Opito says.
Opito, which sets standards for offshore skills training around the world, is today calling for more effective leadership to prevent fatal accidents, lost time incidents and “near-misses”.
The message is being delivered at Opito’s fifth annual safety and competence conference (OSCC 2014) in Abu Dhabi.
Inadequate standards are all too common, David Doig, Portlethen-based Opito’s chief executive, said.
He added: “The latest figures from the International Oil and Gas Prouducers’ Association reveal that there were 88 fatalities in the industry across the world in 2012, with lost-time incidents increasing by 12%.
“This is simply not good enough. There are a number of common causal factors, one of which is inadequate standards.
“This need not be the case if Opito standards, recognised as the best in the world, were adopted by every employer in every oil and gas region in the world.”
However, Mr Doig pointed to a five-year rolling average in the Middle-east which shows a marked improvement in the reduction of accidents in the region between 2007 and 2012.
“Opito has been active in the Middle East since 2005,” he said, adding: “Our standards are being rolled out by the major employers and we are working closely with industry and regional governments to develop a safer workforce through positive changes in behaviour.
“I am not suggesting that this improvement is all down to Opito but I do believe there is a correlation between the increase in uptake of our training standards and the decrease in fatal and other accidents.”
Opioto’s standards, used by major international and national oil and gas companies in 40 countries, are aimed at changing the way people think about workforce development in relation to safety and making sure there is a robust system in place to accurately measure improvements.
Mr Doig said: “The measurement is vital because it’s about the impact of the change, rather than the process of change itself.
“Opito can lay the groundwork but it is the employers themselves who will ultimately drive long-term, high value change. This needs strong, committed, courageous leadership.
“When organisations start talking about change, people inevitably become apprehensive or even fearful, and often disillusioned and disengaged.
“It takes bold and inspirational leaders to make change happen effectively, to bring people on board and make them part of that change.
“New ways of doing things will only actually happen if people understand why they need to change and the benefit that change will have on them and those who work with them.”
OSCC is the only global event wholly focused on safety and competence in the oil and gas industry.
It brings together industry leaders, government bodies, regulators and training providers to share new thinking and best practice.
