Context/background of project ------------------------------------------ The SHIELD project is motivated by the problem of increasing accidents on the Offshore Construction sector, a growing sector due to the need of search of new Energy resources (Oil&Gas, Eolic&Sea Energy). There are a number of dangers that are present working with offshore infrastructures: from work boat injuries to construction platform injuries, there is no doubt that seamen work under some of the most dangerous conditions. The increasing number of maritime energy platforms in Europe, the modernization of harbors and the construction of new ones, and the construction and maintenance of logistic platforms near the sea or inland, demand urgently a special treatment to work homogenously in Europe. The regulation in every EU country is different, as in some coutries (mostly from northern countries) there are mandatory requirements, while in other only recommendations. This is due that working in North or Athlantic sea is more dangerous than in Mediterranean Sea. Construction companies are more and more internationalized and EU Offshore workers need to get the skills to work in all climate conditions. Objectives of the project --------------------------------- The aim of the SHIELD partnership is to thus improve the Skills and Habilities level of the Offshore Construction workers in Europe, especially those from South and Eastern countries, by providing knowledge about specific Health&Safety to VET stakeholders through an innovative and open digital training toolbox. To achieve this overall aim the project will have these objectives: • To develop a European qualification of the European Expert in H&S Offshore Construction (SHIELD) with certification at ECVET level • To establish and pilot a Strategic Partnership comprising training institutions, industry and consultancies in the Offshore Industry • To determine common professional skills of the H&S sector at EU level for the Offshore Construction industry • To develop a common training programs based on industry requirements • To presence train16 H&S Offshore Trainers according to a common develop training program and 24 trainers through the MOOC platform • To test and validate the training Number and profile of participants ----------------------------------------------- The partnership is a well balanced mix of private profit and non for profit companies and research organizations. These 5 partners represent 5 EU countries from different regions: SHIPCON (VET Training Center - Cyprus) leads the project, IBOXC (Spanish Offshore Energy SME especialized on Maritime infrastructures), PREVIFORM (a portuguese VET consultancy specialized on Health&Safety), PRIME (consultancy from Holland) and ACTA (romanian VET). All of them they have international expertise and are related with the Offshore Construction Sector. Methodology ------------------- The methodology to be applied in SHIELD project is based on ‘’Project cycle Management (PM)” approach, which includes planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling the project efficiently throughout its phases, to produce the right Intellectual Output at the right time, cost and quality. For perform effective project management, a Steering Committee (SC) and Quality Control Group (QCG) will be set up. SHIELD will have four phases, PM1: Planning Phase, PM2: Solution Development Phase, PM3: Solution Implementation & Testing Phase, PM4: Solution Exploitation & Dissemination Phase. The project delivers 6 IOs. Description of the results ---------------------------------- SHIELD will produce an e-learning platform for a MOOC course devoted to H&S Offshore Construction for those countries where local/national regulations have not include the specifity of Offshore in their H&S planings. The project aims as well to recognise this training through ECVET certification, and so we envisage to create a Curriculum and a common profile so to allow EU Mobility. Envisaged Impact ------------------------ We expect an impact in the target groups addressed: Companies, in particular Offshore Construction and relevant key staff in those industries, e.g. workers, foremen, engineers. Construction workers with no experience on Offshore Works who are willing to enhance their knowledge and skills as they are interested on Internationalization. Other stakeholders: VET providers, chambers of commerce and industry, industrial associations, foundations relating to Offshore Construction, etc. Professional H&S trainers from Southern EU countries with not or few experience . The impact is also expected in local and nationl construction associations, chambers of commerce, trade unions and national Technology Platforms. The courses are market relevant and can be implemented in their training courses portfolio. We expect an impact of about 1817 direct people and more than 5.000 from the dissemination social media channels (project website, leaflets, partner´s newsletters, etc).
Increasing accidents on the Offshore Construction sector was the incentive for the development of the SHIEDL project. This trend has been partly due to the increasing number of Offshore platforms in Europe and in particular in the Mediterranean sea. Equally important, an important aspect to be taken into consideration is that Offshore regulation is different and in some countries specific pieces of legislation - with regards to Health & Safety - are not obligatory. The aim of the SHIELD partnership is to improve the Health, Safety, Security & Environmental standards (HSSE) of the Offshore Construction workers in Europe, by providing expert knowledge on Offshore Health & Safety (H&S). This is the main aim of SHIELD project. To achieve its overall aim the project will have these objectives: • To develop a European qualification of the European Expert in H&S Offshore Construction (SHIELD) with certification at ECVET level • To establish and pilot a Strategic Partnership comprising training institutions, industry and consultancies in the Offshore Industry • To determine common professional skills of the H&S sector at EU level for the Offshore Construction industry • To develop a common training program based on industry requirements • To test and validate the training The 5 partners of SHIELD project, namely, SHIPCON, IBOXC, PREVIFORM, PRIME and ACTA have organised six (6) multiplier events in which more than 190 participants have attended and became familiar with the aims/objectives and outcomes of the SHIELD project. Among the participants there have been Health & Safety experts, environmental experts as well as members of the public with genuine interest in the risks & opportunities presented by the Offshore Industry in the Mediterranean region. Equally important there have been 11 experts in the area of Offshore Health & Safety, who were trained based on the training course developed within the project. SHIELD has produced a comprehensive e-learning course devoted to H&S Offshore, which comprises of a set of stand alone modules, all related to Health & Safety aspects in the Oil & Gas industry. In fact, this e-learning course is the most comprehensive course ever developed for the Offshore industry and it is expected that the impact attained will continue to increase after the official end of the project. This is due to the fact that the on line course will be used by SHIELD partners as well as external partners, in an effort to enhance the knowledge & expertise of all those involved in the Offshore Industry in the area of HSSE.