Q&A - Enhancing Global Safety Standards with International Minimum Industry Safety Training (IMIST) Further
The energy industry operates in some of the most dangerous environments in the world, and within these high-risk environments hazards are expected and must be controlled.
To do this, all employees must posses the necessary safety awareness and basic skills to identify and mitigate hazards, and ensure their knowledge is updated on an ongoing basis determined by the energy industry.
Our International Minimum Industry Safety Training (IMIST) Further Standard is the industry agreed refresher programme for experienced personnel to maintain their knowledge and skills.
Lucie Booth, OPITO Product Development Manager, explains all about it...
Why IMIST Further developed?
Lucie: IMIST Further was introduced to ensure that employees continue to possesses the necessary safety awareness and basic skills to identify and mitigate hazards, ultimately to support further reducing the risk of incidents around the world.
The need for such training was first borne through working with energy employers from across the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions, who through their regional forums, developed a unified safety standard to meet the global needs of the energy sector.
In response to this, OPITO worked closely with industry experts to develop the International Minimum Industry Safety Training (IMIST) Standard, which provides foundational safety training that is applicable worldwide and subsequently the International Minimum Industry Safety Training (IMIST) Further, which is the industry agreed refresher programme.
Who IMIST Further for?
Lucie: IMIST Further is for experienced personnel who need to refresh their knowledge on the key basic safety elements required by all employees working in the energy industry.
Can anyone study IMIST Further?
Lucie: No, IMIST Further is for experienced personnel only. The entry requirements to study IMIST Further are as follows:
a) A valid OPITO IMIST Initial or valid OPITO IMIST Further training certificate.
Or
b) A valid OPITO Vantage number and
c)Have previously worked offshore*
*Learners are required to complete a declaration prior to course commencement confirming prior offshore work experience, including details of their last offshore trip, to include asset name, location and dates.
How is IMIST Further be delivered?
Lucie: IMIST Further can be delivered in a variety of settings to suit industry needs. Training can take place at an OPITO-approved training establishment, where workers receive comprehensive instruction from certified professionals. Alternatively, as a category A product, it only contains knowledge outcomes only and can be delivered via digital delivery.
The flexibility of the IMIST Further programme means it can be tailored to the operational needs of employers and employees, while maintaining the high standards expected of OPITO-certified training.
Finally, why would you encourage someone to take this course?
Lucie: At OPITO, safety remains our top priority, and the IMIST Further training is a reflection of our ongoing dedication to maintaining a safer working environment across the globe for all the energy workforce, along with ensuring that the delivery models within our Products continue to meet stakeholder and learner needs and are easily accessible by all.
Please watch our video below for more information, or if you are a training centre, visit the hub for more details or contact your OPITO focal point.
