Individuals and employers wanting to work safely in the oil and gas industry can benefit from a partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and WVU Safety and Health Extension.
The two entities are providing the Oil and Gas Safety Specialist Program.
The program provides individuals with the knowledge, skills and credentials to advance their careers in the oil and gas industry, according to a press release from Pierpont Community & Technical College.
The program also provides a sound foundation in industry-specific safety for new and incumbent workers in the industry, as well as experienced safety professionals who lack an advanced degree.
Participants will learn safety and health management, OSHA standards and recordkeeping, hydrogen sulfide awareness, oil and gas electrical safety, and many more topics specific to the industry, according to the release. The program consists of classroom instruction, hands-on field experiences and on-the-job training with partner companies for a comprehensive approach to mastering the content.
Individuals who complete the Oil and Gas Safety Specialist Program will be workforce ready with a “leg up” on other applicants for many of the job sites throughout the state according to Wayne Lundstrom, clinical associate professor and the WVU Safety and Health Extension OSHA Education Center director.
“The oil and gas certification program really works by giving students a total view of the industry and what occurs on the job site, then gives them an opportunity to work with a possible employer,” Lundstrom said. “And that’s invaluable on so many levels — the employer knows they’re getting a quality worker, the worker has the confidence to do the job correctly and the industry overall can operate more safely.”
The program is 60 credit hours of coursework in the midstream, upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.
Morgantown Area News
'Friday, April 19, 2024'
