CBC & PEC Premier to Offer Oil & Gas Safety Training

Coastal Bend College and the Petroleum Education Council (PEC) Premier will hold a signing ceremony to kick-off the start of the Oil Patch Preparation System (OPPS) Short-Term Training Project. The signing ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. inside the Robert J. Beasley Administration Building, Sandy Dirks Board Room at the Beeville campus.

Tom Pauken, the Commissioner Representing Employers for the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), will be present at the signing ceremony for the OPPS Project. He has served as Commissioner since appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry in 2008, and was the TWC Chairman until April 2012. Pauken has decades of public service experience including serving in the White House Counsel’s Office under President Reagan, in addition to having held numerous leadership positions and being a United States Army veteran.

The OPPS Project is a 5-day entry level training and job placement program that is designed to help students gain the skills needed to get started in oil and gas safety related occupations. Students in the OPPS Project will receive hands-on training in addition to classroom instruction, and the training credential is transferrable. The program is being customized to meet employer and industry demands in the Eagle Ford Shale area, and would be a good opportunity for entry-level workers, veterans, and people who want to work in safety related occupations get started on a career path.

“There is a high demand for qualified workers, and the OPPS Project provides the knowledge and skills they need to get their foot in the door and earn money. Working alongside PEC Premier has opened up a great opportunity to help serve our community,” said Lillian Garza, Director of Customized and Continuing Education for CBC.

Before enrolling in the OPPS Project, a student has to undergo an interview and basic drug screening to ensure the student is a viable candidate for the project. Once accepted, the student will enroll in the OPPS Project and attend class from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. for five days. Upon successful completion of the training, the students will receive a hardhat, steel toe rubber boots, gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection to help them get to work in oil and gas safety occupations.

The OPPS Project is scheduled to begin February 2013 at the Pleasanton campus. To register for the program or to find out more information, please contact Lillian Garza at (361) 354-2331 or Nora Cartwright at (361) 354-2230.