ACC partnership brings new oilfield training to Brandon

A new collaboration between Assiniboine Community College (ACC) and Enform will provide high-end oilfield safety certification this spring in Brandon for the first time ever.

The nine days of training will be held during the spring break-up in early June and will give workers a chance to take regulatory required courses in Brandon rather than travelling to Estevan or Calgary.

“These courses keep Manitoba workers in Manitoba and we’re pleased to be partnering with Enform to bring this opportunity to Brandon,” said ACC president Mark Frison. “Building partnerships with industry is part of our strategic direction and helps us move forward with our goal of supporting local employers with customized training.”

The courses being offered include those dealing with blowout prevention, flammable substances, and safety management that are otherwise unavailable in Manitoba. They are required for many workers in the oil patch and are expected to attract both workers who are new to the industry as well as experienced hands who need recertification.

“The safety of our workers and the communities in which we operate is critical to the industry’s success,” said Cameron MacGillivray, President and CEO of Enform. “Safety is a shared value and a shared responsibility. We look forward to working with Assiniboine Community College mindfully improving safety in Manitoba’s growing oil and gas industry.”

“We expect these courses with Enform to be very popular, and with sufficient demand will offer them in future years,” Frison said. “We see energy and the environment as an important part of ACC’s future direction, and we will be increasing our investment in this area, throughout the region.”

This spring, ACC is also offering introductory oilfield safety courses to students in the Dauphin area at its Parkland campus. Those courses include Standard First Aid, WHMIS and H2S Alive courses that are required to begin working in the oilfield, and are scheduled to coincide with high school spring break. Enform will be providing Confined Spaces Training through ACC during this suite of courses as well.

Frison will speak about ACC energy and the environment initiatives in a special presentation to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce at its regular luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Brandon course list is as follows:

• Well Service Blowout Prevention - Starts June 1 (4 days)
• Safety Management and Regulatory Awareness for Supervisors - Starts June 6 (3 days)
• Detection and Control of Flammable Substances - Starts June 9 (1 day)
• Coiled Tubing Well Service Blowout Protection - Starts June 5 (1 day)

Dauphin Course list is as follows:

• Standard First Aid - Date to be determined (two days)
• WHMIS 1 - Date to be determined
• H2S Alive - March 30, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods - March 30, from 5 - 8 p.m.
• Confined Space Training - March 31, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.