Simian International and Prometric Offshore Services have officially opened their new training centre in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, after receiving accreditation from the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) Overseas Training Scheme (OSTS).
This milestone comes after years of collaboration and dialogue between the two companies, showcasing their dedication to promoting safety and competence within the scaffolding industry.
Prometric Offshore Services, known for its commitment to international standards and safety practices, had previously sent its scaffolding operatives to Nigeria to complete CISRS OSTS programs. This positive experience led them to take a significant step forward by establishing a fully accredited training facility in Abidjan.
Ian Fyall, Managing Partner of Simian International, expressed his enthusiasm for the new venture, stating, “We have our lead OSTS instructor, Abid Ghul, primed to begin training on 2nd January. I look forward to helping Prometric in their goal of achieving a fully qualified workforce.”
The newly accredited training centre in Abidjan offers programs in Scaffolder Level 1, Scaffolder Level 2, Basic Scaffold Inspection, and Scaffolding Supervisors. Additionally, there are discussions regarding the future approval of Layher product courses.
Rawad Zeid, Operations Director for Prometric, emphasised the importance of CISRS OSTS accreditation, saying, “We work very hard to comply with all relevant regulations, international standards, and best safety practices. We feel CISRS OSTS will ensure our workforce attains a very high level of competence and will allow them to hold a qualification that is recognised around the world.”
Prometric’s initial objective is to qualify its own workforce as CISRS OSTS scaffolders, inspectors, and supervisors. However, they are optimistic that other companies within the region, as well as those in neighbouring countries like Senegal and Ghana, will take advantage of this state-of-the-art facility for their training needs.
Dave Mosley, Managing Director of CISRS, praised the dedication of Prometric and their commitment to sourcing scaffolding materials from the UK supplier George Roberts for the centre. He extended his best wishes to both Prometric and Simian International for their future endeavours.
The CISRS OSTS accreditation has gained increasing recognition as a worldwide standard for scaffolder competency. This achievement has led to a surge in inquiries regarding further centre accreditations in 2024, highlighting the growing importance of safety and competence in the scaffolding industry.
As the partnership between Simian International and Prometric Offshore Services thrives in Abidjan, it promises to contribute significantly to developing and enhancing scaffolding skills and safety measures throughout the Ivory Coast and beyond.
