ABU DHABI, UAE, July 17, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Oil and gas workers in the Middle East will today (July 17) be the first in the world to access a groundbreaking new global training initiative developed to drastically improve safety standards for the global offshore workforce.

Senior representatives from oil companies in the region will attend a briefing to hear how the International Minimum Industry Training Standard (IMIST) will ensure workers have the safety knowledge and training to understand and avoid hazards.

IMIST has been developed by oil and gas training standards body OPITO International. It brings, for the first time, a standardised level of basic safety training to an estimated 460,000 people in the Middle East.

It will be delivered in partnership with international learning and skills provider Atlas Interactive via e-learning and tailored to meet each region’s specific workforce, language and geographic needs.

"The tragedy that was Macondo has shaken the sector and put the spotlight firmly back on safety and workforce competence. While there is a level of knowledge and good practice within the existing workforce there is a clear desire in the industry for uniformity when it comes to the safety and competency of its people," said David Doig, OPITO Group Chief Executive.

"Delivery and content of training has varied dramatically from region to region and lacks consistency. IMIST sets a new common standard to ensure that everyone, regardless of role or discipline, has the same basic safety understanding."

IMIST will be applied to the current workforce and all new entrants to the industry. The course assesses basic safety knowledge in nine subject areas including risk assessment, the use of hazardous substances, working at height and mechanical lifting among other subjects.

John Rowley, chief executive officer of Atlas Interactive said: "Each country has its own distinct needs and IMIST provides the platform for increasing the performance of the national workforce whilst ensuring a standardised playing field in terms of safety and competency."

The briefing will take place at Le Royal Meridien, Abu Dhabi, from 12-2pm.

IMIST will be rolled out across 30 countries worldwide throughout Asia, Africa and the United States over the next two years.

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