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155 HOURS Level 2 · Specialist program Enrolment open

155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry

Level 2 of the Oil and Gas safety career ladder. Master OSHA 29 CFR 1910 — 100% online, at your own pace.

Aligned with OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Employer-verifiable credentials Open-book online exam
155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry
Certificate · Transcript · Wallet card Verifiable at amiosp.com
Duration
155hoursMinimum instructional hours
Modules
16modules11 core · 5 specialised
Completion
~1monthTypical, fully self-paced
Delivery
100%onlineMicrosoft Teams + LMS
Career level
2of 5Specialist on the career ladder
LEVEL 2 PROGRAM 155-Hr OSH Specialist
Program overview

What is the 155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry?

The 155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry program from the American Institute of Safety Professionals is a specialist-level certification that develops the advanced technical competencies required to serve as the subject-matter safety expert across upstream (exploration and production), midstream (transportation, storage, and processing), and downstream (refining and petrochemical) oil and gas operations. At 155 hours, this programme provides the deepest oil-and-gas-specific technical training in the American Institute of Safety Professionals catalogue at the specialist level, building the process safety, hazard assessment, industrial hygiene, and regulatory expertise that operators, drilling contractors, EPC firms, and oilfield service companies require from their senior technical safety personnel.

Oil and gas safety specialisation demands a technical depth that no other industry matches. The specialist must master Process Safety Management (29 CFR 1910.119) at the programme-development level, not merely awareness: designing and facilitating Process Hazard Analyses using HAZOP, What-If, FMEA, Fault Tree, and Bow-Tie methodologies, developing management-of-change procedures, writing mechanical integrity programmes, and conducting PSM compliance audits. The specialist must design H2S management programmes that go beyond awareness training: contingency plan development, safe briefing area designation, atmospheric monitoring system design, escape route analysis, and rescue authorisation protocols. The specialist must assess offshore risks, wellsite hazards, pipeline integrity concerns, and refinery process hazards at the technical level that informs engineering controls and operational decisions.

The programme delivers 110 hours of mandatory core modules covering process safety management programme development, process hazard analysis methodologies, H2S programme design and management, oil and gas regulatory framework mastery (OSHA, API, BSEE awareness), petroleum industrial hygiene, offshore risk assessment, wellsite and drilling safety assessment, pipeline safety awareness, refinery and petrochemical hazard assessment, oil and gas incident investigation, and safety programme auditing for petroleum operations. An additional 45 hours of specialised modules cover advanced PHA facilitation, well control safety awareness, environmental compliance for petroleum operations, fire and explosion analysis for hydrocarbon environments, and loss-of-containment prevention.

All training is delivered 100 percent online through Microsoft Teams and the American Institute of Safety Professionals Learning Management System (LMS). Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, professional wallet card, and official transcript, all employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

Learning outcomes

What you'll be able to do
  1. 01 Design, implement, and maintain Process Safety Management programmes per 29 CFR 1910.119, developing written procedures and documentation for all 14 PSM elements: employee participation, process hazard analysis, operating procedures, training, contractors, pre-startup safety review, mechanical integrity, hot work permits, management of change, incident investigation, emergency planning, compliance audits, and trade secrets.
  2. 02 Facilitate Process Hazard Analyses using multiple methodologies: HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study), What-If/Checklist, FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), Fault Tree Analysis, Bow-Tie Analysis, and Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) for upstream, midstream, and downstream petroleum operations.
  3. 03 Design comprehensive H2S management programmes: site-specific H2S contingency plans, atmospheric monitoring system specification, safe briefing area designation and wind-direction analysis, escape route planning and signage, SCBA deployment and maintenance programmes, rescue authorisation protocols, medical response coordination, and H2S training programme governance.
  4. 04 Conduct petroleum industrial hygiene assessments: hydrocarbon exposure evaluation (benzene, BTEX compounds, H2S, SO2, mercaptans), NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) awareness, drilling fluid exposure, heat stress in enclosed process environments, noise assessment in production and refining facilities, and the hierarchy of exposure controls applied to petroleum-specific hazards.
  5. 05 Assess offshore installation risks: platform layout hazard analysis, temporary refuge integrity, escape-evacuation-rescue analysis (EER), dropped object assessment, structural integrity awareness, marine operations safety, helicopter operations safety, and simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) hazard assessment.
  6. 06 Evaluate wellsite safety for drilling, completion, workover, and production operations: rig floor hazards, rotary table and drawworks, high-pressure well control equipment, BOP stack awareness, flow testing, wireline operations, coiled tubing, and wellsite crane operations.
  7. 07 Conduct oil and gas incident investigations using advanced root-cause analysis methodologies adapted for process safety events: loss-of-containment investigations, fire and explosion investigations, well control incidents, offshore incidents, and pipeline failures, producing investigation reports that meet operator, regulatory, and insurer requirements.
  8. 08 Perform safety programme audits for oil and gas operations against OSHA PSM (29 CFR 1910.119), API recommended practices (API RP 75, API RP 754), and operator-specific safety management system requirements, producing findings reports with risk-rated corrective actions.
WHO IT'S FOR

Who should take this program?

Prerequisite: Oil and gas industry experience is strongly recommended. The 70 Hour Oil and Gas Trainer provides an excellent foundation. The 30 Hour General Industry programme provides the OSHA 29 CFR 1910 regulatory base.

  • HSE specialists and senior safety officers in E&P companies, drilling contractors, and oilfield service companies
  • Process safety specialists and PSM coordinators seeking structured programme development and PHA facilitation training
  • Offshore safety specialists and offshore installation safety professionals
  • Refinery and petrochemical plant safety specialists
  • Pipeline safety specialists and integrity management professionals
  • Safety consultants specialising in oil and gas who provide PSM, PHA facilitation, H2S programme design, and audit services
  • Engineers (process, mechanical, petroleum, chemical) transitioning into oil and gas safety specialist roles

Entry requirements

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. All credentials are employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.
1 Oil and gas industry experience is strongly recommended
2 Completion of the 70 Hour Oil and Gas Trainer or 30 Hour General Industry programme is recommended
3 2 or more years of practical safety experience in petroleum operations is recommended
4 No formal academic degree is required, though engineering or science backgrounds strengthen the technical foundation
5 All instruction is delivered in English; professional proficiency is required
Curriculum

What will you study?

16 modules in two parts: 11 core modules and 5 specialised modules.

How your 155 hours are split
110 hrs11 core modules
45 hrs5 specialised

Core modules

11 modules · 110 hours
01

Core module 1 Process Safety Management Programme Development

15 hrs

29 CFR 1910.119 at the programme-design level.

  • Developing written documentation for all 14 PSM elements. Process safety information compilation. Operating procedure development: normal
  • temporary
  • startup
  • shutdown
  • emergency. Training programme design for process operations. Mechanical integrity programme: equipment lists
  • inspection schedules
  • testing protocols
  • documentation. Management of change procedures: technical changes
02

Core module 2 Contractor safety programme within PSM. Emergency planning specific to process incidents. PSM compliance audit programme design. Process Hazard Analysis Methodologies

15 hrs

HAZOP: node identification, guide-word application, deviation analysis, consequence evaluation, safeguard identification, recommendation development.

  • What-If/Checklist: question development
  • scenario analysis. FMEA: failure mode identification
  • effect analysis
  • severity-occurrence-detection scoring
  • risk priority number calculation. Fault Tree Analysis: top event definition
  • gate logic
  • cut set analysis
  • probability calculation awareness. Bow-Tie Analysis: threat identification
03

Core module 3 PHA team facilitation skills. PHA documentation and recommendation tracking. H2S Programme Design and Management

10 hrs

H2S properties, toxicology, and exposure limits in depth.

  • Site-specific H2S contingency plan development: zone classification (0-500 ppm, 500+ ppm)
  • wind rose analysis
  • safe briefing area siting
  • escape route design
  • alarm system specification. Atmospheric monitoring programme: fixed and portable H2S detectors
  • alarm set points
  • calibration schedules
  • maintenance protocols. SCBA programme management: equipment selection
04

Core module 4 H2S programme audit and continuous improvement. Oil and Gas Regulatory Framework Mastery

10 hrs
  • OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 (PSM) at regulatory-text depth. 29 CFR 1910.146 (Confined Spaces) for process vessels. 29 CFR 1910.147 (LOTO) for process equipment isolation. 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection) for H2S and hydrocarbon environments. 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom) for petroleum chemicals. BSEE regulations awareness for Outer Continental Shelf operations. EPA RMP (40 CFR 68) awareness. API recommended practices: API RP 75 (Safety and Environmental Management Systems for offshore)
  • API RP 754 (Process Safety Performance Indicators). Operator-specific safety standards
  • pre-qualification requirements
05

Core module 5 Operator-specific safety standards and pre-qualification requirements. Petroleum Industrial Hygiene

10 hrs

Hydrocarbon exposure assessment: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX), H2S, SO2, mercaptans.

  • Exposure routes in petroleum operations. OSHA PELs and ACGIH TLVs for petroleum substances. Exposure monitoring strategies for upstream
  • midstream
  • and downstream operations. NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) awareness: scale
  • sludge
  • produced water. Drilling fluid (mud) exposure. Heat stress in enclosed process environments: fired heaters
  • compressor buildings
  • refinery units. Noise assessment: drilling rigs
  • compressor stations
06

Core module 6 Respiratory protection programme management for petroleum environments. Offshore Risk Assessment

8 hrs

Platform layout hazard analysis.

  • Temporary refuge assessment. Escape
  • evacuation
  • and rescue (EER) analysis. Dropped object survey methodology. Fire and explosion risk assessment for offshore installations. SIMOPS (Simultaneous Operations) hazard assessment. Crane operations risk assessment for offshore. Marine operations safety: supply vessel
  • standby vessel
  • anchor handling. Helicopter operations risk management
07

Core module 7 Marine operations safety: supply vessel, standby vessel, anchor handling. Helicopter operations risk management. Wellsite and Drilling Safety Assessment

8 hrs

Rig floor hazards: rotary table, drawworks, top drive, cathead, tongs.

  • High-pressure equipment: manifolds
  • choke and kill lines
  • BOP stack. Well control awareness: kick recognition
  • shut-in procedures
  • well control equipment. Completion operations: perforating
  • stimulation
  • flow testing. Workover operations: pulling and running tubing
  • well servicing. Wireline
08

Core module 8 Wireline and slickline operations. Coiled tubing operations. Wellsite crane operations. Wellsite electrical safety. Pipeline Safety Awareness

6 hrs

Pipeline construction safety: trenching, welding, hydrotesting, tie-ins.

  • Pipeline integrity management awareness: in-line inspection
  • cathodic protection
  • anomaly assessment. Pipeline emergency response: leak detection
  • isolation
  • evacuation. Hot tapping and in-service welding safety. Pipeline right-of-way safety: third-party damage prevention
  • one-call systems
09

Core module 9 third-party damage prevention, one-call systems. Refinery and Petrochemical Hazard Assessment

10 hrs

Refinery process unit hazards: atmospheric and vacuum distillation, catalytic cracking, hydrotreating, reforming, alkylation.

  • Petrochemical plant hazards: olefin crackers
  • polymerisation
  • chemical synthesis. Fired equipment safety: heaters
  • boilers
  • flares. Rotating equipment safety: compressors
  • pumps
  • turbines. Tank farm safety: floating roof tanks
  • fixed roof tanks
10

Core module 10 Loading/offloading operations: truck, rail, marine. Oil and Gas Incident Investigation

8 hrs

Investigation methodology for process safety events: loss-of-containment, fire, explosion, well control incidents.

  • Root-cause analysis applied to petroleum scenarios: Ishikawa
  • fault tree
  • barrier analysis
  • bow-tie
  • AcciMap. Evidence preservation at petroleum incident sites. Investigation coordination with OSHA
  • BSEE
  • CSB
  • operators
11

Core module 11 Investigation report writing for petroleum incidents. Corrective action management and MOC integration. Safety Programme Auditing for Petroleum Operations

10 hrs

PSM compliance auditing per 29 CFR 1910.119.35.

  • API RP 75 SEMS auditing for offshore. Operator audit preparation and facilitation. Developing audit protocols for upstream
  • midstream
  • downstream operations. Non-conformance management. Corrective action governance. Audit programme maturity development

Specialised modules

5 modules · 45 hours
01

Specialised module 1 Advanced PHA Facilitation

10 hrs

HAZOP facilitation mastery: team selection, node definition, P&ID reading, guide-word application, scribe documentation, recommendation prioritisation.

  • Managing PHAs for complex processes: multi-unit interactions
  • batch processes
  • utility systems. PHA revalidation. Facilitating PHAs for management-of-change scenarios. LOPA in depth: protection layer identification
  • probability assignment
  • risk reduction demonstration
02

Specialised module 2 LOPA in depth: protection layer identification, probability assignment, and risk reduction demonstration. Well Control Safety Awareness

8 hrs

Well control fundamentals: formation pressure, hydrostatic pressure, kick indicators.

  • Primary and secondary well control. BOP equipment awareness: annular
  • pipe rams
  • blind/shear rams
  • BOP testing. Well control procedures: shut-in
  • well kill methods awareness (driller’s method, wait-and-weight). Surface well control equipment. Blowout contingency planning. Well control training programme design awareness
03

Specialised module 3 Surface well control equipment. Blowout contingency planning. Well control training programme design awareness. Environmental Compliance for Petroleum Operations

8 hrs

EPA regulatory framework for petroleum: Clean Air Act (NSPS, NESHAP), Clean Water Act (NPDES, SPCC), RCRA (hazardous waste management), CERCLA (Superfund), OPA 90 (Oil Pollution Act).

  • Spill prevention and response: SPCC plans
  • FRP (Facility Response Plan). Air emissions management: VOC
  • flaring
  • combustion. Produced water management. Waste management for petroleum operations
04

Specialised module 4 Air emissions management: VOC, flaring, combustion. Produced water management. Waste management for petroleum operations. Fire and Explosion Analysis for Hydrocarbon Environments

10 hrs

Fire types in petroleum: pool fire, jet fire, flash fire, fireball, BLEVE, vapour cloud explosion (VCE), boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion.

  • Fire modelling awareness: consequence analysis for thermal radiation
  • overpressure. Fire
  • gas detection system design principles. Emergency shutdown system principles. Active
  • passive fire protection for petroleum facilities. Fireproofing. Deluge
  • foam systems. Flare system safety
05

Specialised module 5 Active and passive fire protection for petroleum facilities. Fireproofing. Deluge and foam systems. Flare system safety. Loss-of-Containment Prevention

9 hrs

Containment integrity management: corrosion mechanisms in petroleum service, inspection strategies, fitness-for-service awareness.

  • Secondary containment design: dikes
  • bunds
  • containment sumps. Relief system design principles: pressure relief valves
  • rupture discs
  • flare systems. Leak detection and repair (LDAR) programmes. Isolation philosophy: single block
  • double block and bleed
  • spectacle blinds
  • line blinds. Valve management
155 instructional hours in total · fully self-paced Download the program brochure

Standards and frameworks you'll work with

Official sources, linked for reference
How it works

How is the program assessed?

One online, open-book exam at the end of the program, taken through your assigned student portal. Score 70% or higher to pass — your result is emailed to you straight after the exam.

  1. 1
    Enrol and get access Join live sessions on Microsoft Teams and study in the Institute's learning portal (LMS).
  2. 2
    Study 16 modules 11 core and 5 specialised modules at your own pace — most learners finish within a month.
  3. 3
    Take the exam One online, open-book exam through your assigned student portal.
  4. 4
    Get your result Your result is emailed to you as soon as you finish. 70% or higher to pass.
  5. Get certified and verified Receive your certificate, transcript and wallet card, verifiable online.
70% to pass The pass mark for the final online exam
Open-book Use your course materials during the exam — it tests application, not memory
Up to 3 retakes Didn't pass? Take a month to review the materials, then retake up to three more times
WHAT YOU RECEIVE

Credentials employers can verify in seconds

How verification works
Diploma certificate — 155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry
Diploma certificate Sample · 3018
Wallet card · front — 155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry
Wallet card · front Sample
Wallet card · back — 155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry
Wallet card · back Sample
Career path

Where does this program sit in your career?

It is Level 2 of the Institute's Oil and Gas safety career ladder. Each level builds on the one before, from training delivery to organisation-wide safety leadership.

Oil and Gas safety career ladder 5 levels
  1. 1 70-Hour OSH Trainer Training delivery
  2. 2 155-Hour OSH Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry Technical expertise YOU ARE HERE
  3. 3 164-Hour OSH Supervisor Daily enforcement
  4. 4 192-Hour OSH Manager Program leadership
  5. 5 233-Hour OSH Professional for Oil and Gas Industry  Organisation-wide safety leadership
What comes next International Diplomas Go further with a 480-hour International Diploma for multi-industry, diploma-level depth. Explore diplomas
Also consider CHSM · RSM · RSP Professional certifications for broader, multi-industry credentials. View certifications
Fees and enrolment

How much does the program cost?

Digital

PDF credentials, delivered online
$260.99$270.99
  • Online modules and learning resources
  • Open-book online exam
  • Certificate, transcript and wallet card (PDF)
  • Online verification record
Enroll — $260.99
Includes printed certificate

Complete

Hard-bound certificate plus PDF
$319.99$329.99
  • Everything in Digital
  • Hard-bound printed certificate
  • Shipped to your address (courier extra)
Enroll — $319.99

Enrolling a team?

Talk to an advisor about enrolling several people. Talk to an advisor
Secure checkout Open enrolment, self-paced Replies within 24 hours Fee questions: accounts@amiosp.com Fees and VAT may apply. Courier charges for hard copies are quoted separately.
Why choose us

Why study with us?

A complete oil and gas safety education from the American Institute of Safety Professionals — online, self-paced and built for working professionals.

A focused oil and gas program 155 instructional hours across 16 modules.
Standards you can apply at work OSHA 29 CFR 1910, taught so you can use it on the job.
Fast and flexible Fully online and self-paced. Most learners finish within one month.
Fair, open-book assessment One online exam with a 70% pass mark, and up to three retakes if you need them.
Employer-verifiable credentials Certificate, transcript and wallet card, verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.
A clear path forward Level 2 of a five-level career ladder, with a direct route to International Diplomas.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Still deciding? Speak to an advisor about your experience and goals. We reply within 24 hours. +1 689 286 3561 info@amiosp.com Contact an advisor

What is the 155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry?

The 155 Hour Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for Oil and Gas Industry program from the American Institute of Safety Professionals is a specialist-level certification that develops the advanced technical competencies required to serve as the subject-matter safety expert across upstream (exploration and production), midstream (transportation, storage, and processing), and downstream (refining and petrochemical) oil and gas operations. At 155 hours, this programme provides the deepest oil-and-gas-specific technical training in the American Institute of Safety Professionals catalogue at the specialist level, building the process safety, hazard assessment, industrial hygiene, and regulatory expertise that operators, drilling contractors, EPC firms, and oilfield service companies require from their senior technical safety personnel.

Who is this for?

Prerequisite: Oil and gas industry experience is strongly recommended. The 70 Hour Oil and Gas Trainer provides an excellent foundation. The 30 Hour General Industry programme provides the OSHA 29 CFR 1910 regulatory base.

How long does it take?

The program is designed to offer flexible online learning with a minimum instructional contact time of 155 hours. Most learners successfully complete the course within one month, allowing them to progress at their own pace while balancing professional commitments.

How is it assessed?

Candidates can take this exam through an assigned portal from the American Institute of Safety Professionals. A passing score is 70% or higher, and exam results are provided right after by email to the address provided. The exam is open-book, allowing candidates to validate their answers. Any candidates who do not pass have 1 month after their exam to go through the training materials and can take the exam 3 additional times.

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