Solutions for compliance & competency

By Andrew Imrie

The Middle East faces many challenges in the development and competence of its oil and gas workforce. Andrew Imrie explains how Atlas Interactive is helping industry meet these challenges head on in the areas of HSE compliance and technical competence.

Nationalisation, a rising number of major oil and gas projects, and the drive towards meeting compliance and competency standards has prompted an unprecedented demand for effective and innovative solutions to address the transfer of knowledge to the whole workforce. In a region of this size however, where skill sets vary and projects are often large-scale, delivering a "one-size fits all" solution isn't an easy task.

Taking advantage of international best practices is vital. As a key component of its solutions, Atlas Interactive has developed e-learning courses for the global oil and gas industry in areas such as Safe Systems of Work, HSE and Operations and Maintenance disciplines.

The UK industry last year adopted Minimum Industry Safety Training (MIST) standards to ensure that all experienced offshore workers are assessed in a predefined range of mandatory safety topics.

Atlas Interactive applied its FAST TRACK adaptive learning technology to develop a unique solution in order to assess and train in excess of 40,000 offshore workers across nine HSE areas.

This dynamic solution offers 'anytime, anywhere' individually targeted e-learning with the added benefit of saving employers from the logistical and financial burden of assessing and training large groups of employees.

The learning model uses a diagnostic pre-assessment function to gauge each learner's existing knowledge and tailor a course to address any gaps. Summative questions are aligned to the learning outcomes, enabling the FAST TRACK engine to rebuild the course each time the learner reaches the end of the remaining modules. By utilising a process that reduces the course size based on the incorrect responses, the pass mark can be set at 100 percent.

The concept of a common set of minimum industry safety training standards for both on and offshore workers is gaining momentum in the Middle East and the tried and tested North Sea solution adapted so it can be applied to international, multi-ethnic workforces.

The use of language options, graphics and pictorial imagery to overcome limitations in reading ability and computer literacy opens up the tool to workers of all abilities, while colour-coded hand-held devices for course navigation and assessment removes the need for the traditional keyboard and mouse.

Throughout the Middle East, Atlas has also been engaged in developing safety, office and company inductions ­- in a range of DVD and 3D animation formats - for use as e-learning courses or stand-alone presentations. Available in anytime, anywhere multi-lingual options, they negate logistical issues such as the need for instructors or translators to deliver the courses, saving companies both time and money.

Numerous competence mapping exercises have been conducted to assist companies in identifying training requirements against job competencies. These exercises enable companies to explore the most effective and efficient means of delivering, assessing and underpinning knowledge requirements to help develop the competence of their workforce.

An integrated approach to developing competency will bring the biggest benefits to any energy sector and Atlas has worked with the industry to develop UNIFY, a comprehensive learning management system designed to streamline learning and competency, with comprehensive tools to manage e-learning and abide by mandatory training compliance, appraisal and competence management from one integrated system.

With tools like these in place, knowledge transfer doesn't have to be the challenge it once was.

For more information visit: www.atlasinteractive.com

Biography

Andrew Imrie is Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, for Atlas Interactive. Having spent the last 14 years in the oil and gas industry, he previously held senior commercial roles with companies including General Electric, National Oilwell Varco and Amec Oil & Gas.