Petans, a Norwich-based organisation specialising in professional safety and survival training, has been a trusted partner of the offshore energy industry for almost 50 years.
It all began on December 3, 1975, when the Petroleum Training Association North Sea (PETANS) was registered with the Charity Commission. Its objective was simply to provide training for all persons employed in the petroleum industry in the North Sea area.
The same year marked the beginning of commercial oil production from the Argyll field, located in the central North Sea.
At the time, Petans was one of two offshore training associations, along with the Scottish Office Training Association (SCOTA). A 1980 parliamentary report described their role: “identify training needs common to member companies and develop resources to meet these needs”.
The first Offshore Fire Training Centre was also launched in Montrose, Scotland in 1978 by a group of 13 major operators and the Petroleum Industry Training Board, today known as OPITO.
Andie Marshall, business manager at Petans, said: “It’s clear that offshore training was a really big story at the time – there was lots of work being done to develop it.”
However, it wasn’t until the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988 – and subsequent Cullen Report in 1990 – that safety training became mandated by the industry.
This was despite previous disasters, such as the collapse of BP’s Sea Gem jack-up oil rig off the coast of Lincolnshire in December 1965, which resulted in 13 fatalities.
It was only three months earlier that Sea Gem had made the first discovery of North Sea gas.
“Sea Gem was an early indication of the challenging conditions that operations in the North Sea would face,” said Andie. “Maybe it was clear at this point that safety training would be key to the success of this new and rapidly growing industry.”
Setting the standard
Over the years, Petans has evolved from an association that defined industry training needs to an accredited provider delivering to the requirements of OPITO, City & Guilds and the Global Wind Organisation (GWO), to name but a few.
Its specialist training extends beyond the energy sector to the MOD, local authority fire and rescue services and industrial fire teams throughout the UK.
“There’s an embedded belief in training among our staff,” said Andie. “It feels like our DNA is different because we don’t see training as a means to make money; it’s an end in itself.”
Some of Petans’ longest-serving employees come from a firefighting or military background, including training and operations manager Ian Richards and training instructor Chris Watering.
Chris recalls doing his five-day basic survival and safety course in the early 1990s, culminating in a day of firefighting at Petans’ current site on the edge of Norwich Airport.
“Because Chris was employed by Petans as a fire instructor at the time, he actually taught the course that he was on all week,” said Andie. “He wouldn’t be allowed to do that today!”
An invisible asset
Petans works hard to ensure everyone enjoys its programmes, which also include first aid, confined space and helicopter underwater escape training (HUET).
But it’s just as critical that trainees understand the importance of the training.
“There’s the old ethos that training is for the day when something bad happens, so it actually becomes an invisible asset,” said Andie.
“We have people coming through our doors today who have no idea about Piper Alpha,” she added. “We want them to recognise why the training was there in the first place.”
For more information, please email info@petans.co.uk, call 01603 891 255 or visit petans.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article