Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug10/01) - The first group of students has nearly completed the oil rig floorhand training program at Aurora College.

Previously such training has not been offered in the NWT.

Rick Clarke, industrial oil and gas training co-ordinator for the college, said a good deal of thought went into the program.

"We expanded a lot of things when we put this program together. We sat down and discussed it with Petroleum Industry Training Service," Clarke said. "It's their course."

He explained that, originally, floorhand training put on by PITS ran for 19 days, but that it was shortened to seven because industry found it too expensive.

Clarke said the college wanted to make both the classroom and practical aspects a bit longer for the Inuvik program.

"We're hoping they'll end up with a better safety record out of it -- less injuries when they actually go out and work," Clarke said. "That increased the cost, but they're getting more knowledge out of it."

The program lasts for 12 days.

The first six days are conducted in a classroom.

Students cover H2S alive, standard first aid and CPR, hazardous materials and life skills.

In days five and six the students learn theory pertaining to drill rigs, and on day six they get to walk around on the site to go over what they've learned in class.

The first group of students began classroom training July 30, and on Sunday they began their six days of practical work on the rig.

Also on Sunday, the second group of students began classroom studies.

The program is designed so that up to 28 students can take part in each level, so that as many as 56 will live in the camp at a time.

"The camp life is making a world of difference as well," Clarke said.

"It's actually right along the same lines as what they're going to be doing in an actual workforce. The camp is right there, right by the rig."

Camp adds reality

To further simulate real conditions, 14 students train on the rig on day shift, and the other 14 have the night shift.

As well, there is a zero-tolerance policy on the site regarding alcohol and illegal drugs.

"The first time, it's dismissal," said Clarke.

He pointed out the policy, and the tests, apply not just to students but to management as well. During the first week of training, four students and an instructor were sent home after returning to the camp inebriated.

"We don't have as many problems as we did the first week, because all students know that, yes, it's not fun and games out here. This is a deadly serious job," Clarke said.

"You're learning how to work under actual working conditions and we have to take that seriously."

Clarke said the training being done here is recognized virtually everywhere.

"We don't want to start giving courses that are only accepted in the region. We prefer any graduates of any courses that we do, that they can work anywhere in the oil and gas industry," Clarke said.

"You don't want to close any doors, you want to open them."