Companies embracing new technologies to develop their workforce’s safety skills and ability to perform are being encouraged to step into the limelight as entries for the annual OPITO Safety and Competence Awards 2017 (OSCC) open.
Under this year’s OSCC theme of New Generation New Thinking, the awards have been developed into two new categories to celebrate new technologies, methods and continuous development in the oil and gas industry, and how the expectations of the younger generation are impacting business approaches.
Finalists will be presented at the OPITO Safety and Competence Conference (OSCC 2017) which is being held at The Royale Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 8.
As the industry skills, standards and workforce development organisation, OPITO recognises it is vital that the oil and gas industry evolves and adapts its learning processes to meet the needs and demands of the future workforce. It is calling on businesses and individuals already living up to these requirements to enter the awards.
OSCC 2017 will present the opportunity to explore what the industry offers the next generation in terms of current support, how the learning and education experience is changing and the role technology will play in this process. The event is expected to attract around 450 industry, government and training provider executives.
The New Generation Award has been launched in recognition of an organisation that can best demonstrate its commitment to developing the next generation ensuring a safe and competent oil and gas industry workforce. Judging criteria requires examples of initiatives to attract and retain personnel and how they empower and inspire the workforce through learning.
Meanwhile, the New Thinking Award is in recognition of an organisation that can best demonstrate its commitment to the development of a next generation learning environment using emerging technology and practices. Businesses should show examples of technology led improvements in the use or delivery of training and assessment and how technology is enabling the next generation of learning.
OPITO interim chief executive officer, John McDonald, said: “The oil and gas industry is making significant progress in training improvements, but understands that technology-led approaches are required to effectively engage with the new generation entering the workforce. This year’s awards will celebrate the achievements so far and show where we still must go to ensure safety and competency messages are universally heard, understood and put into every day practice.
“We’re looking for companies to enter which have strong examples of utilising the OPITO standards to enhance skills and create safer working environments through training, competence and qualification initiatives. Businesses that have shown creativity and innovation to suit the needs of the next generation will make ideal nominees and we look forward to hearing their stories.”
Entries can be made online at www.opito.com/oscc-conference by Friday, September 1. An independent judging panel of industry leaders will score each entry according to the agreed criteria.
Finalists will be announced by Tuesday, September 19 and will be required to submit a short video for use at the ceremony by Friday, October 13. Applicants for both awards should also reference a range of OPITO standards used.
The OSCC was introduced in 2009 to bring operators, contractors and the supply chain together with training organisations and provide a forum for improving standards of safety and competency that protect the workforce and the industry’s reputation.