Press release date: February 18th 2014
University of Hull has forged a partnership with Reynolds Training Services in the delivery of practical process safety skills and knowledge to first and second year chemical engineering students.
Dr Philip Rubini, the University’s chemical engineering programme leader, said the campaign to bring real-world experience to students prior to entering the workplace was proving a success.
“Here at the University, whilst we are proficient at delivering typical academic subjects, we felt that the students would benefit much more from someone with current real world expertise of process safety,” explained Dr Rubini when asked why a third party trainer had been drafted in.
The current intake of students was put through their paces by Reynolds Training Services’ team of safety trainers in classroom and on-site industrial environments. Training concluded in January 2014 by way of a two-day workshop at Reynolds Training Services headquarters at CATCH.
Dr Rubini expressed “confidence” that the experience had been of “great value” in enhancing the students’ theoretical knowledge of process safety, adding that he expected to see the joint venture with Reynolds Training Services “continue for many years to come”.
Processing safety at the grassroots
Lincolnshire-based safety provider Reynolds Training Services has long worked with high hazards brands such as Simon Storage and BP, fuelling their existing workers with key safety skills.
John Reynolds, the company’s managing director, said that the grassroots approach of training the students presented a different challenge.
Mr Reynolds remarked: “For many years, Reynolds Training Services has promoted the idea that sustainable safety is best achieved by preemptively instilling process safety skills and knowledge into the minds of students before they actually enter the high hazards chemical industries.”
“When the University of Hull approached us, we saw it as a golden opportunity to put our talk into action, working with 18-29 year-old students in the formation of strong safety foundations.”
In planning the training package, Reynolds Training Services asked Simon Storage to grant the students access to its Immingham site. The supplier of industrial services including cargo logistics, bulk liquids and gas storage, was only too happy to agree.
Mr Reynolds said: “We couldn’t think of a better place for the students to see actual prevention and mitigation systems in action than at a top tier COMAH site such as Simon Storage.”
“During the visit, the students gained extra insight from personnel at the Immingham Terminal from safety officers Steve Dean and James Howarth.”
Why was Reynolds Training Services a CATCH for Hull?
With a number of third party safety providers to partner with, Hull’s Dr Rubini said “good recommendations” coupled with Reynolds Training Services’ facilities at CATCH had sealed the deal.
CATCH, based in Stallingborough, is a safe, realistic, industrial environment combining process plant, workshop and outside areas with classrooms, meeting rooms and conference facilities.
Neil Mann, operations manager at CATCH, said the centre made the perfect training ground in which to weave practical skills with the students’ existing theoretical knowledge base.
Mr Mann stated: “The full scale industrial environment at CATCH coupled with the real-world experience of Reynolds Training Services offers these students a unique insight into process safety on a high hazard site, preparing them for their future careers in the chemical and chemistry sectors.”
Dr Rubini agreed, underscoring “excellent” feedback from students as regards the two-day CATCH experience.
In the words of the students
Student Ridwan Haashi described the learning experience with Reynolds Training Services as “incredibly valuable”.
Mr Haashi said the practical training had enhanced his theoretical knowledge, adding: “I have been given in-depth knowledge about the sheer importance of process safety.”
Fellow student, Victor Lima, agreed: “Learning things in practice is better and exciting for us students.”
Second year chemical engineering student, Akalya Raviraj, said the class had gained insight into “real life” process industries. “Sitting in lectures only gives us the theoretical aspect of process safety but coming to this workshop has put all this to me and has tested what I know.”
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Notes to editors:
More about University of Hull
The University of Hull provides a cutting-edge educational experience for over 18,000 students a year. The academic portfolio contains 50 disciplines across the arts and humanities, business, education, health, the sciences and the social sciences.
As one of the major players in the regeneration of Hull and Scarborough, the University also has a significant impact on local economic and social growth.
For more information: www2.hull.ac.uk/
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More about RTS
Reynolds Training Services is a leading provider of specialist safety training and consultancy to the petroleum and petrochemical industries and wider world of work. The company has a long history of helping employers, staff and individuals exceed workplace health and safety legal requirements.
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Press enquiries:
Name: John Reynolds
Position: Director of Reynolds Training Services
Location: CATCH
Email: john@reynoldstraining.com
Tel: 01469 552 845
Reynolds Training Services press page: press page
