The Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is sponsoring its staff to gain appropriate training abroad in the UK and US. The ENOC training programmes and subsequent qualifications play a key role in establishing basic levels of competency in the oil and gas sector.
“Our training programmes depend on the specialisations required, which includes marine, generally through the UK maritime academies and vocational institutions; fire safety, mainly through again either the UK, Morton and March, University of Lancashire, or in the Texas Fire Safety College in the USA,” said Waddah Ghanem, chief EHSQ compliance officer.
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“In addition, the Fire Safety Engineering College in Oman provides world standard academic training and education. ENOC works closely with them to develop industry specific fire safety and emergency response courses,” he added.
Qualifications
In light of the many developments of downstream and upstream activity in the oil and gas industry, ENOC believes that thorough technical skill can only be obtained through test-based vocational qualifications and hands-on practice.
A variety of courses and workshops are made available to the trainees, from safety risk-assessments to occupational health and industrial hygiene. The International Diploma in Environmental Management for example, provided by the British Safety Council, is said to provide a foundation for engineers keen on becoming environmental specialists.
According to Ghanem, depending on what it is the engineer/trainee wishes to specialise in, the majority of training courses entail “two basic components: the theoretical element and the practical element. Usually Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) courses focus on the practical elements and the implementation of the practical solutions at work. Most programmes that we run are either competency based or certified in the sense that a test of competency is either required through knowledge retention tests, practical exhibition of skills or certified by major reputable organisations.”
“Essential information and competence in the oil and gas business regarding the operations, safety and environment is of critical importance,” he added.
“If organisations fail to deliver the same, it has subjected its employees to great risks and dangers. Employers as per the law are expected to give training to prevent occupational injuries/illness and prevent loss in general.”
National development
As part of its employee-training programme, ENOC recently sponsored EHS compliance (marine) inspector, Ahmed Al Shawi, for a year-long study programme. Al Shawi was sent to the UK’s National Sea Training Centre where he sat final examinations in marine surveying.
Hussain Sultan, ENOC Group CEO, commented on the advances in training methods in a statement: “As an employer of choice, ENOC is committed to equipping its employees with the necessary skills to further climb up the corporate ladder.”
“ENOC has always been a pioneer in the development of nationals in the UAE, currently having 20% of Emiratis as its work force.”
As Ghanem indicates, while machines and technology become more advanced, more appropriate training will be required to maintain key skills and knowledge.
Therefore, while equipping its national employees with both technical engineering skills, as well as some essential management skills, ENOC also ensures that they acquire the ability to train and develop other nationals in the future.
“The development of the UAE in the years to come is linked directly to the development of the national and expatriate work force,” said Ghanem.
“It is to be noted that more training is always required not only to give the basic skill sets required, but also to maintain them for all employees and individuals.”
