Partner Article

Fighting back against the skills shortage

A NORTH East company has responded to calls from leading oil and gas companies to become the first in the world to create an approved insulation training course to combat offshore skills shortages.

The Application of Non-metallic Insulation Systems Training course has been developed by Advanced Industrial Solutions (AIS) on the Tyne Tunnel Industrial Estate in North Shields as a fast-track qualification to provide trained insulators for the oil and gas sector.

Now AIS is celebrating after receiving formal approval for the course from the Oil and Gas Academy (OPITO) – the leading authority on training in the oil and gas sector. It is the only insulation course world-wide to achieve this kudos.

The four day course trains delegates how to install specialised insulation materials in sometimes extreme conditions offshore. As well as the practical skills required, the course covers issues such as health and safety, the legislative framework and moisture control – a costly corrosion problem for the offshore industry.

Working closely with OPITO and companies such as Cape, Salamis and RGB, AIS created the course in response to calls from industry giants such as BP and Shell to raise the standards of insulation fitting in the oil and gas sector and to provide trained competent insulators quickly.

Currently the only comprehensive training programme which exists is a three year apprenticeship in thermal insulation and acoustics.

If successfully completed, delegates receive a course certificate which shows they have achieved the minimum level of training required by oil and gas employers and approved by OPITO.

Delegates then go on to complete a log book of prescribed tasks in the workplace to become fully qualified insulators.

With miles of exposed pipe work present on most oil and gas structures, properly fitted insulation can save companies thousands of pounds in energy costs.

However current skills shortages mean that not all insulators are trained or assessed to a consistent level – this can result in possible erratic work and / or costly mistakes.

This approved OPITO course now provides a training framework and quality standards for the insulation sector where every insulator currently working offshore will be required to meet the standards set.

Managing director of AIS, Paul Stonebanks, said: “We are delighted to have this invaluable accreditation approval from OPITO. As well as giving our course credibility, having recognition from a worldwide offshore standards body like OPITO will help to set quality standards for insulators across the offshore industry – something that’s badly needed.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .