Safety at work

Enform delivers high quality training that meets the standards established by our trade associations and the regulatory agencies in each of our provinces and territories. Training programs consist of long and short-term courses in safety, environment, technology and career development, as well as customized and international courses.

Safety training includes general safety courses, oilfield driver training, safety management courses and a selection of safety courses specific to the seismic industry. Environmental programs include general environmental and waste management courses and emergency response programs, and our technology department enhances the skills of operators and technicians through courses in petroleum engineering, gas technology, field production operations, drilling and well servicing, and petroleum fundamentals.

Career development programs are comprised of management courses, instructor training and pre-employment courses such as Drilling Rig Floorhand and Oil and Gas Production Operator Basics. Enform also facilitates the training of the industry’s remote and mobile workforce through a variety of distance delivery models, such as computer-based training (CBT) and self-study workbooks.

These programs are available through Enform training centers in Calgary and Nisku, Alberta, as well as through partnerships with colleges and training agencies, and a network of franchised instructors across the country. Training is delivered in the field, in the classroom, on the rig and on the computer, and it is consistent among all jurisdictions; the same material is taught in Saint John’s, Newfoundland as in Fort St John, British Columbia.

Enform consults with the provincial governments and workers compensation boards to ensure that regulatory compliance and occupational health and safety are cornerstones of worker training in our industry, and works collaboratively on campaigns to target specific issues, such as driver safety. A field office was established in Fort St John in 2005 to help facilitate training and safety services in support of oil and gas operations in northeast British Columbia.

Training

Entry-level training has been emphasized as key to reducing injuries and fatalities in our industry, as more young and inexperienced workers appear on the jobsite. Enform’s computer based Petroleum Safety Training (PST) program is a modular, interactive, multimedia orientation program designed to introduce workers to the world of oil and gas. The CBT delivery method has shown to be especially effective with young workers, due in large part to their familiarity with computer use, and the advantage of this method is that it is economical and instantly available – literally at a student’s fingertips, 24/7.

Classroom training is the most common delivery of Enform courses, as it is most conducive to developing problem-solving skills and allows for group discussion. The biggest challenge with classroom training is simple logistics. In times when industry is experiencing high volumes and pace of work, it can be difficult to gather students in one location at a predetermined time; field locations are further disadvantaged by their smaller student base.

In spite of these challenges, completion rates from Enform courses are very high and our competency-based approach to instruction that incorporates in-progress assessments is designed to ensure success in learning.

The Canadian petroleum industry made great strides in developing the skills of their workforce by embracing the use of ‘real’ industry equipment for hands-on training. In the 1980s, with the support of the Alberta government, Enform (at the time known as the Petroleum Industry Training Service) constructed the world class Nisku Training Center. Spanning 40 acres, the Centre operates as an integrated hands-on facility, including two fully operational drilling rigs, a service rig, a well control facility with natural gas injection to simulate kicks, an oil production facility, a gas production facility, a gas utility center, rescue training devices, 17 classrooms and a skills training area.

Enform is probably best known for its signature program, H2S Alive. H2S gas is a potential killer – odorless, colorless and virtually undetectable by human senses – and because most Canadian production areas have the potential to produce some degree of sour gas, it is widely accepted that field workers have H2S Alive training.

A well-trained workforce is integral to this industry’s success and we work diligently with regulators to ensure worker competence and safety. As testament to this, Enform issued approximately 175,000 training certificates in 2006, representing 125 different courses, as well as exam challenges and competency assessments.

Contractors are generally required to provide certification records for any personnel they will place on a work site, and the resulting volume of certifications and re-certifications places a strain on Enform’s infrastructure. The industry is using a variety of strategies to facilitate electronic communication of certification data to expedite the process and Enform is looking at expanding this area of service.

Safety Services

Safety services are a key element of the industry’s strategy for developing an effective and efficient workforce. Within Enform, our Safety Services division supports industry safety through a variety of initiatives, including Industry Recommended Practices (IRP), the Health and Safety Certificate of Recognition (COR) Program, annual safety seminars, Safety Stand Down Week and Awards of Distinction.

An IRP is a set of best practices and guidelines established by expert industry and government stakeholders. The petroleum industry currently has 23 IRP’s in place to guide practices in, for example, critical sour drilling, safety program development and danger tree control.

Enform acts as the certifying partner in the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program. Petroleum industry companies with health and safety programs that meet approved standards are awarded a Health and Safety Certificate of Recognition (COR). COR is a voluntary program, supported by the BC and Alberta Workers Compensation Boards with employer rebates for effectively managing worker safety and reducing worker injuries.

Safety Stand Down Week is a campaign that speaks to management commitment by encouraging Presidents, CEOs and senior managers to visit their field sites and remote operations to observe and discuss safety issues with frontline workers. Enform administers the weeklong event, sharing a ‘toolbox’ of free items such as brochures, stickers, posters, perception surveys, CDs and an online discussion. This approach yields positive results for all levels of the company, and participation increases every year.

Enform distributes safety newsletters and alerts to raise awareness of hazards and share recommendations from incident investigations. Finally, the Petroleum Industry Annual Safety Seminar (PIASS) held each year in Banff, AB provides a forum for communication about industry safety. This sellout event includes Awards of Distinction, where individual contributions to safety are recognized.

The line between safety services, training, labor recruitment and retention is increasingly blurred as new strategies are explored to build a sustainable workforce. A safe work environment is essential to recruiting young workers; training is integral to safe work, and retention is enhanced by a worker’s sense of value and belonging. Enform is uniquely privileged to offer the petroleum industry a full range of these services under one roof.

Conclusion

Here in Canada the petroleum industry is proactive in continually adapting and improving its training, standards and work practices. Enform believes that the provision of effective, timely training and safety services is a key tool in workforce management as technological advances and sophisticated work processes demand skilled operators, and society demands injury-free worksites.