An International Licensed Training Provider in Malaysia has stressed the importance of ECITB Global-certified courses in helping increase competency.
BJ Services (M) Sdn Bhd, which provides a full range of oil and gas field services, says having competent workers helps “increase our efficiency offshore and prevent any safety and quality issues”.
The company, which is based in Kuala Lumpur, was speaking on the back of being recognised at the Engineering Construction Industry (ECI) Training and Development Awards 2023, where it was named regional winner for the Asia-Pacific Region in the International Training Provider of the Year category.
BJ Services, which is part of the Baker Hughes Group, is one of the largest pre-commissioning and maintenance providers in the Asia-Pacific region, and works on turnarounds during shutdowns for oil and gas facilities.
To carry out this work, BJ Services trains its own workers using Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) programmes, such as Mechanical Joint Integrity (MJI) training
MJI training at BJ Services in Malaysia
The MJI model was developed by ECITB and industry experts to address hydrocarbon release issues globally to both increase levels of competency and reduce accidents.
The scheme, which has been adopted by many oil and gas operators and contracting companies, is intended to reflect industry ‘good practice’ for the training and competence of workers in relation to mechanical joint operations in both the onshore and offshore industry.
Benefits of ECITB certification
BJ Services Operations Director Michael Krumpelman says the “ultimate aim” is to be efficient during shutdowns, providing clients with leak-free start-ups, traceability and stronger health and safety – which he says all stems from having competent workers to inspect and re-instate these joints.
He has praised the benefits of being able to deliver the ECITB-certified, quality-assured MJI four-stage training and competency model, which has industry credibility due to the way competency is tested and validated every three years.
Michael said: “That ECITB certification is so recognisable in our industry and with our oil and gas providers, owners and operators because they see that as we’re competent to do the work.
“In the past there was no certification for bolting or flange management training. Having that ECITB certification in place has helped grow our business as we have a value-added service that we offer the owner-operator for these turnarounds.
“Having that competency in place is so important because it’s critical to be safe and efficient offshore and not have any delays during shutdowns.
“By having certified people and a certified training programme we have competent people which increases our efficiency offshore and prevents any safety and quality issues, which is the ultimate end goal to have zero incidents with our people offshore.”
Industry recognition ‘a major milestone’
BJ Services’ commitment to training and upskilling its workforce was recognised as “an example for other training providers” by the judges in awarding it the Asia Pacific Region accolade at the ECI Awards 2023, which were organised by the ECITB in the UK and held at the Cutty Sark in London at the start of November.
As well as delivering the MJI scheme, the company also delivers the International Health and Safety Passport scheme (IHSP), On-Site Machining and International Competency in Engineering Construction (ICE) Certification Scheme.
It was praised at the awards for its “enduring effort in the pursuit of excellence and close affiliation to the ECITB’s core values”, having provided ECITB training since 2015.
Michael Krumpelman and Ahmad Hafeez Ramli (centre) from BJ Services receive their award from ECITB CEO Andrew Hockey and event host Kate Bellingham
Reacting to the award win, Michael said: “There’s been a lot of hard work and dedication that has gone into it, so it’s a great success for our company.
“With this award, it proves that we’ve increased the safety of our people through the training. There’s no other award that can beat this, so it’s a great achievement.
“For our work in the international markets, this is the first time we’ve won an award so obviously this is a major milestone and shows we are recognised as a leading standard, which is definitely something the owner-operators will be looking at.”