● Leading training centres Survivex, in Aberdeen, and AIS Training, in Newcastle, part of 3T Energy Group, reopen after enforced closure due to coronavirus.
● Vast array of Coronavirus measures: on-site antibody tests, temperature checks, PIC of Coronavirus safety – operating at 20% capacity to allow for safe reopening.
● Bellwether for the UK’s energy sector as it gears up after down period.
● Kevin Franklin, CEO of 3T Energy Group, says: “We have adapted to the ‘new normal’ by leaving no stone unturned in ensuring our sites are the safest on the market. We have worked day and night since March to adapt to the Coronavirus challenge, and we are now ready for the post lockdown training environment.”
The UK Energy Sector is receiving a significant boost this week with the reopening of the UK’s biggest training provider to the sector, after enforced closure due to the Coronavirus lockdown announced by the UK Government on 23rd March.
3T Energy Group trains more than 100,000 delegates every year in energy sector health and safety and best practice. After extensive consultation with its clients it has reopened its two world-renowned training centres today: Survivex, based in Europe’s oil capital Aberdeen, and AIS Training, in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Ahead of the reopenings 3T carried out full, detailed Risk Assessments at both facilities, leading to even more stringent measures ensuring the safety of everyone on site. 3T has decided to operate at around 20% capacity initially to allow for a safe environment.
3T will be adapting to the ‘new normal’ at both sites by introducing a raft of Covid-19 safety measures, including:
● Temperature checks for all visitors and staff
● Medical questionnaires for customers & staff
● Anti-body tests for all staff
● Person in Charge of Coronavirus safety
● Daily protocol reviews led by the 3T Energy Group board
● Reconfigured classrooms to allow for social distancing
● Quarantine area should any person on site display Covid-19 symptoms
● Personal desks, paper, and pens for customer use
● Deep cleans of facilities and additional PPE
● Reinduction of staff with 3T’s safe operating measures
3T Group has also invested in technology at its training centres to allow for social distancing – state-of-the-art video technology and tablet use are now in place in every relevant location. The company has also been using the downtime caused by Covid-19 to develop world-first technology-driven training techniques for launch to the market in the near future, parts of which will be rolled into its training centres immediately.
The reopening of the centres represents a significant turning point for the Energy sector following Coronavirus-related disruption, showing that it is starting to get back into gear following the lockdown period. Many delegates have not been able to complete essential training and refresher courses that allow them to safely carry out their duties on site.
3T Energy Group specialises in training energy sector delegates in critical skills for use across the whole energy sector, including onshore and offshore Oil & Gas, Wind and renewables and other industrial sectors. It owns more than 900,000ft² of training space across its Survivex and AIS Training centres and has trained more than 350,000 individuals at 39 locations worldwide.
Kevin Franklin, CEO of 3T Energy Group, adds: “We would categorically not be reopening if we could not provide a safe environment. We are the number one training provider for a reason and our dedication to safety on site is second to none – the measures we have put in place are testament to that. These precautions are the new normal.”
“Our facilities have been upgraded to combat Coronavirus and have changed completely as a result, without compromising quality of training. For example, customers and staff go through rigorous entrance procedures to maintain the new standard and protect all employees and delegates”.
Paul Stonebanks, President of 3T Energy Group, says: “Health and safety training is an essential cog in many industries, but none more so than energy. Delegates need to be able to continue their development and access refresher training on their skills so that they are ready to go back on to site, whether that’s offshore or onshore.”
“Over the past few months, we have been developing new technology that will truly revolutionise training in the energy industry. We’ll be rolling that out in due course, but for the time being we’ve included some of this into the training centres to ensure customers receive the very best service in the market.”
“We’re glad to be doing our bit to help the sector and the local and UK economy get moving again.”
Survivex and AIS training implement special measures to combat Coronavirus
In addition to those measures laid out above, both AIS Training and Survivex have implemented the following special measures ahead of their reopening to enhance health and safety on site for delegates and staff.
Facilities and Procedures:
● New wash stations at the entrance to every centre
● Sanitiser stations for delegates in all classrooms with instructors briefed to sanitise all surfaces and door handles before and after every section of the course – including breaks
● New start time procedures, with course start times staggered to avoid large gatherings in the mornings
● Temperature checks upon arrival at training centres – this is a crucial stage and the first line of defence to prevent the virus from entering the centres
Social Distancing:
● Signage indicating one-way systems around every centre
● ‘Feet’ markings on the ground to set out expectation for maintaining 2-metre gaps
● Tables and chairs in classrooms placed 2 metres apart
● Reduced course delegate numbers – in some instances to just 4 people to ensure social distancing can be maintained
● Improved personal protective equipment (PPE) laundry and distribution hub within every centre to ensure that all PPE can be cleaned after every use before it is returned to delegates – this includes purchasing more than 200 additional coveralls for our delegates to wear
