The new managing director of Opito said there are “significant parallels” between the RAF and the oil and gas industry.
Colin Griffiths, a former electrical engineer, spent eight years on the front line flying with the RAF as a member of the Nimrod Crew.
He entered the oil and gas industry almost 25 years ago, where he will lead the company from offices in Dubai.
Mr Griffiths’ appointment will see him lead the roll-out of common safety training standards across the global oil and gas industry.
He said: “The Nimrod was the workhorse of the RAF; it had performed with distinction in every major conflict since 1969 with the assumption that it would always be a safe platform, but in 2006 over Afghanistan we lost an aircraft and its entire crew, not through enemy action but due to a poorly constructed safety case and organisational failings.
“This was a tragedy for those involved, their families and the RAF. Having known every member of that crew, I am fully aware of the impact it has on everyone, in the same way that those affected by recent offshore fatal incidents, whether it be on-board platforms or helicopters, suffered and continue to suffer.
“Ageing offshore assets and creeping complacency in oil and gas can have catastrophic repercussions.
“Too often people are focused on the task rather than on the safety which is what causes accidents.
“Opito aims to make sure that every oil and gas worker anywhere in the world is totally focused on safety with the right training and competence to carry out the task.
“The success of the oil and gas industry is on achieving the right balance between optimising production and ensuring the safety of our people.
“Safety therefore features in everything we do. Wherever we are in the world, we need to set standards in training and competency before we send people offshore or into other hazardous environments
“Safety therefore features in everything we do. Wherever we are in the world, we need to set standards in training and competency before we send people offshore or into other hazardous environments.”
During his time with the RAF, Mr Griffiths was responsible for conducting electronic surveillance as a member of the Nimrod crew, which carried out search and rescue and anti-terrorist missions.
Before joining Opito from Talisman Sinopec in Aberdeen, where he was operations superintendent responsible for day-to-day operations of two North Sea assets, Mr Griffiths will lead Opito International’s drive for the adoption of common global safety training standards.
He has taken over from out-going managing director Ian Laing who is retiring after seven years in the role.
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