Aberdeen-based behavioural change consultancy Optimus Seventh Generation, has reinforced its commitment to safety by securing a new agreement with Apache North Sea to deliver a series of unique training workshops in 2015 and 2016.
The workshop, designed for personnel working in the oil and gas industry, has been developed to improve the management of major accident hazards through more informed decision making and improved behaviours. The workshop focuses on providing a greater understanding of the barriers designed to protect people, the environment and the asset as well as improving hazard identification and risk assessment.
The workshop is held at Apache’s SAGE site at St. Fergus, 65 kilometres north of Aberdeen, this facility allows the participants the unique opportunity to train on a live plant, allowing them to carry out hazard identifications and to test their decision making around scenario-based activities in a real working environment.
Eddie McCullough, Director and Senior Partner at Optimus Seventh Generation, said: “In the current economic climate it is increasingly important that expenditure on training is focused on the most vital areas, and in our experience there is nothing more important that protecting people and the environment.”
Aligned with the current Industry and Health and Safety Executive focusing on Major Accident Hazard Prevention, the workshop is based around the psychological model Aspects of Resilience, which states that a person must be positive, focused, flexible, organised and proactive to overcome change.
Paula Paterson, Client Manager at Optimus Seventh Generation added: “The workshop looks at whether an organisation is able to prevent an incident from occurring, and if one has occurred, how they would prevent it from escalating and then recover from it.
“Through applying a range of psychological concepts and theories we are able to understand incidents in their entirety, using specific data to bring meaningful context, providing a new perspective on daily tasks to those who work offshore.”
“This project represents an exciting opportunity for the company to expand our training offerings, and we look forward to working with and building a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with Apache, meeting all of its operational needs,” concluded Paula Paterson.
Stuart Taylor, Maintenance & Operations support Manager at Apache, said: “Safe operations is always our priority. Within our organisation we identified the need to improve our understanding of the management of major accident hazards and have worked closely with Optimus to design a workshop which meets our training and business needs. The workshop has proven to be a success and we are already seeing the benefits across our assets.”
Since its formation in 2003, Optimus Seventh Generation has built a diverse portfolio of global customers, focusing on high hazard industries both within the UK and internationally, in offices in Aberdeen and Perth, Australia.