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OPAL (Oman Society for Petroleum Services) has partnered with RTITB to deliver the Oman National Occupational Standard Project for Lifting Operations Training and Skill Certification assessment scheme

The Ministry of Labour has issued a license for OPAL to establish a first-of-its-kind Sector Skills Unit (SSU) for the energy and minerals sector in Oman. Through this, OPAL is aiming to further promote standards of work, and increase competencies and professionalism among those operating plant and materials handling equipment among its more than 450 members. As part of the new assessment scheme, a competency card will be issued for lifting operators based on their skill level, in line with standards set by RTITB, a leading workplace transport training accrediting body based in the UK. The standards have been specifically designed for the new scheme to help make measurable improvements to safety, while reducing risk and increasing efficiency.

Competency cards will be issued electronically by RTITB, which will now be one of OPAL’s recognised Lifting Operation International Awarding Bodies. Red cards will be issued to candidates who have completed training and are undergoing On the Job Training (OJT), and blue cards will be given to competent operators. Only operators who have received the competency card will be able to work for OPAL members. RTITB aims to help OPAL to improve the standards and skills of operators and increase safety in its members’ operations at the same time.

“By setting national and international standards for training and assessment, RTITB is dedicated to improving safety in lifting operations worldwide,” said Laura Nelson, managing director for RTITB, who recently visited Oman to officially sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the new collaboration with OPAL.