Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training standards are required for workers on North Sea oil rigs prior to their deployment on these oil rigs.

In respect of health and safety matters the law is goal setting, requiring workers to be provided with information, instruction and training necessary to ensure they are able to undertake their work safely. With respect to work offshore, the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (UK) has developed a wide range of training courses and standards that include safety information. HSE is an observer to the OPITO board.

Two particular standards, the Minimum Industry Safety Training (MIST) and Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) courses cover the general safety knowledge required by all employees before working offshore in the oil and gas industry.