By DARA BUTTERFIELD
BP has become the latest major N. Sea operator to achieve approval for its in-house competence management system after a series of independent audits carried out by OPITO found the processes within BP met all 20 best practice points of the criteria necessary to help ensure competence.
The accreditation makes the operator one of only three organisations in the UK Continental Shelf to achieve an auditor’s recommendation of approval outright following such an audit.
BP will also use criteria to benchmark their contractors, facilitating a consistent approach to measure how effectively competence is assessed and demonstrated internally, and across their supply chain.
OPITO managing director John McDonald said the increasing number of companies electing to have a more formal and independently audited competence management system is directly related to the current industry climate.
He said: “In the current climate, rising costs and tight budgets have made the retention of existing personnel imperative to business sustainability. Identifying gaps and cultivating skills enables managers to develop a safe and competent workforce and properly map out succession plans while employees develop attainable career paths.
“This assurance of a skilled and competent workforce is vital to the future of the UKCS. By working together with industry, we can continue to deliver robust systems for companies who in turn can support their staff which will ultimately benefit the industry as a whole.”
The scope of the OPITO approval applies to maintenance, production and control room technicians, working across BP’s onshore and offshore across the North Sea.
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