Safety training is an important component of pre entry into the Alberta Oil and Gas Industry.
Recently, a newspaper article pointed out the alarming increase in accidents and fatalities in 2007 in this sector.
The conclusive evidence pointed out that safety training was lacking, coupled with working in a high hazard enviroment an accident is waiting to happen.
New, young, inexperienced and illiterate workers are particularly at risk. They need time to learn how to predict and manage many invisible hazards on site, such as H2S. There seems to be a lack of manpower, so workers are being promoted to hazardous jobs with greater responsibility, yet they are often not capable of managing at risk yet.
Experienced workers may become complacent and become disabled. They also may send the new staff to do the work that needs greater training and supervision.
Fatigue, long hours, alcohol and drug abuse, poor weather and road conditions all add up to extreme conditions. Training is one means to explain the hazardous conditions and promote safe work procedures and engineering controls.
Alberta Occupational Health and Safety has increased fines and jail times for supervisors and staff that fail to meet the Regulatory methods.
C-45, a recent Federal law, sets a precedent for Jail for Life, should a director or supervisor fail to set up standards of due diligence for their staff.
Media, Safety programs, fines and Remedies are also means that C-45 can have a negative impact on companies that do not meet safe work procedures.
In 2005, the Alberta Oil and Gas Industry set out Industry Recommended Practices for companies to meet. There are currently 23 IRPs and three Guides to Safe Work. Staff, whether new or experienced , are required to have the following programs when entering a many oil and gas sites:
H2S Alive
Standard First Aid/CPR/AED
WHMIS
TDG
PST
| H2S Alive |
An Enform program of 6-8 hours regularly Hydrogen Sulphade gas. Any oil and gas site , whether sweet or sour, requires this ticket, good for 3 years |
| Standard First Aid |
Our Red Cross oriented program is listed under the First Aid Regulations as a work requirement, as well as first aid kits and signage. It includes CPR and AED. 3 year renewal. (CPR - suggested annual recertification) |
| WHMIS |
The Chemical Hazard Regulation outlines that all workers exposed to Controlled Products at the workplace must be trained and understand the WHMIS
labels and Material Safety Data Sheets. Regular or annual renewal suggested, as per company policy. Compressed gases (fire extinguishers), Flammables
(diesel), Oxidizers (Oxygen), Toxins ( Invert), Corrosives (drilling muds) and Dangerously Reactive Chemicals (Acetylene) are common products in gas plants
and rigs. |
| TDG |
Anyone who offers for transport, receives or sends out a dangerous good must be certified in Transportation of Dangerous Goods. This is now required for all
personnel on these types of job sites, even if they are not actively involved in transport. Receptionists sending out an order of dangerous goods, drivers taking
packages to a worksite for a refill and loading dock personnel receiving a shipment are examples of people requiring training. Up to 3 year expiry if you are
still working for the company. Documentation, Safety Marking, Training and Packaging requirements, Dangerous occurrence reporting and Emergency
Response Accident Plans are components of the program. |
| PST/CSTS |
Petroleum Safety Training is an interactive multi media computer learning system, set out by PST 16. Typically a 4-6 hour program with 13 sections.
One must complete 2 out of 4 options which include: Exploration, Rigs, Oilfield Trucking and Plant/Production.
The Construction Safety Training computer module is a free component, when taking PST, if desired.
Other programs that regulated currently are:
| Ground Disturbance Level I/II - IRP 17 |
Ground Disturbance in the Vicinity of Buried Facilities requires training prior to digging. Level I is a short awareness program, up to a half day in length.
Level II is a 6-8 hour program, certified through Global Training Centre. It is a lecture style program that shows preventative steps when planning to dig. |
| Confined Space |
As part of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, a worker must be competent in entire procedures before entering a Confined Space. This 6-8 hour full day program offered by Allstar Enviro Safety is part physical skills and a portion lecture, movies or multi media format. Three year certification. |
|
| Fall Protection Basics |
The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Regulations has amended the Code for Fall Protection requirements. A Fall Protection system must
be in place from 1.2 - 3 M on a job site. At 3 M and greater, workers must have Fall Protection training and appropriate equipment on hand. This
program, certified by Allstar Enviro Safety has movie, theory, exercises and physical skills. In the program the hands on and theoretical analysis of
anchor, body harness, connecting devices and rescue plans are employed. Three year certification |
Thank you for adding this to the cover page (when you click on Oil and Gas)
You Can Call Us at:
Ph: 403-214-1558 Fax: 403-253-1806
www.safetymom.ca |
