Astronaut Leads the Speakers at OPITO Safety and Competence Conference

HOUSTON, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

World-renowned astronaut Colonel Mike Mullane has been confirmed as one of the main speakers at this year's OPITO Safety and Competence Conference (OSCC).

Managing the Safety Chain is the theme of the trading standard body's third annual event which will be held in the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Tuesday, 20 November 2012. The conference is supported by Falck Nutec, SEFtec Global Training and Atlas.

Col Mullane, a veteran of three space missions, began his working life with the US Air Force and flew 134 combat missions. With NASA, Col Mullane completed missions aboard the shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. He is now a highly regarded speaker on the subjects of safety and teamwork.

The safety chain experience of space flight, and particularly that of the astronaut and their reliance on others to ensure a safe working environment, has a real relevance to the potential hazards in the oil and gas industry. Col Mullane will discuss the safety controls he looked for pre-launch and their implications as he prepared to make the journey into the most isolated environment known to mankind.

He will be joined by fellow speakers Steve Walker, head of the UK Health and Safety Offshore Division, and Dr Elie Daher, executive vice president at United Safety International.

With 36 years spent working at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Mr Walker has considerable experience in proactive inspections, accident investigations and enforcement activity. He has been head of HSE's Offshore Division since 2009. The organisation is responsible for assessing and regulating the integrity and safety of the approximately 300 offshore oil and gas installations on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

Dr Daher spearheads the international growth strategy at United Safety International which works in partnership with many oil and gas companies and industrial customers to provide safety solutions worldwide. Over a period of 26 years, Dr Daher has worked in Asia, Middle East and the US in the energy, education and information industries.

David Doig, OPITO Group chief executive said: "This year we have an array of high profile, experienced and passionate speakers whose expertise, knowledge and pragmatic approach will benefit and interest all delegates from across the industry."

Attendance at OSCC is free with booking, award nominations and further details available from http://www.opito-oscc.com.

SOURCE OPITO