ABERDEEN, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 11/08/12 -- Petrotechnics, the global leader in transforming frontline performance and improving operational risk, has been accredited for the delivery of a new OPITO certified Control of Work Training for Performing Authorities course in the oil and gas industry.

The course is designed to improve competencies and create common understanding across those responsible for work control and the ultimate aim of mitigating risk. As a result of Petrotechnics' experience in increasing operational efficiency and improving safety in the riskiest part of operations, the company was asked by Oil and Gas Industry ISSOW (Integrated Safe Systems of Work) User Group members to develop and run an OPITO approved course.

The one-day instructor led course is designed to give personnel responsible for the control of work at oil and gas installations and sites in the North Sea upstream oil and gas industry the generic skills, knowledge, understanding and behaviors required to carry out the role safely and effectively. Delivered in four modules, the training covers an introduction to control of work, task risk assessment, controlling work activities, handover work suspension and completion and will conclude with a final assessment.

Petrotechnics can deliver the course at any mutually agreed premises anywhere in the world. The first course took place at the end of October.

John Broomfield, product support manager at Petrotechnics, said: "More than 85% of operations staff in the North Sea have experienced other Petrotechnics' control of work training and following a rigorous six-month certification process, we are now able to provide the industry with an OPITO approved course. This Control of Work Training for Performing Authorities is designed to deliver a richer and enduring learning experience to provide the basic skill set, which enables personnel to perform confidently in the field.

"Our control of work instructors have a minimum of ten years of experience and provide a more relevant and rewarding training experience, to ensure the content is understood and assessed effectively. It offers companies the ability to train in the internationally recognised control of work behavioral standards and market leading hands on practical tools such as Sentinel PRO® and Proscient."

Ian Close, operations support superintendent at Apache North Sea Limited, said: "As part of its endless quest to improve safety standards, Apache North Sea were eager to trial the new OPITO Control of Work for Performing Authority training standard. Working closely with Petrotechnics, Apache was determined to take this training to the workforce, rather than vice versa, and hosted two experienced Petrotechnics trainers on Forties Delta for a seven day period, at the end of October 2012.

"Thanks to a lot of hard work by all involved, a total of 70 candidates were put through the course and assessed successfully. Feedback from delegates has been extremely positive, demonstrating that the OPITO standard has delivered a valuable new tool to the industry and proving that, with the right operator commitment and facilities provided, Petrotechnics can deliver this training to a very high standard in an offshore environment."

Petrotechnics has been an active member of the Oil and Gas Industry ISSOW User Group since it was formed in 2007. The group was originally established by STEP Change in Safety and is now operated by UKCS upstream oil and gas operators.

Notes to editors
Petrotechnics' Operational Performance & Predictive Risk solutions can enable organisations to intelligently embed, automate and manage its frontline work processes while giving them the means to measure and extract meaningful insight and operational intelligence, providing organizations with confidence that they have the ability to deliver on targets while removing uncertainty around this key area of operational risk.

Over the last 12 years, Petrotechnics has pioneered, proven and successfully helped organizations in hazardous industries increase operational efficiency and improve safety in the riskiest part of their operations. More than 40,000 people at 350 sites in 22 countries in hazardous industries currently use Petrotechnics solutions on a 24x7 basis. Petrotechnics has its headquarters in Aberdeen, UK and offices in Houston, USA, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Russia to support its operations and global customer base.