High Arctic Energy Services - Training

Competency Level Training
Program
High Arctic Energy Services established a competency based training program in 2001 for the purpose of ensuring employees meet the Company's standards for knowledge and ability to safely carry out their tasks. There are seven competency levels in the training program, all of which relate to different aspects of working with downhole operations, snubbing units and underbalanced rigs. To progress through the levels, employees are required to complete a competency checklist; demonstrating personal competency to department Managers and Supervisors in all areas of our business (Human Resources & Training, Driver Training, Equipment Support, Field Operations, Quality Assurance, Health, Safety and Environment). In addition to the checklists, employees attend courses or challenge exams and are required to have a minimum number of incident-free days in their current positions. The competency level training courses exceed all government certification requirements, combining classroom work and practical experience and covering topics including packers and other downhole tools, snubbing, slick line operations and procedures and fishing tool operations.

High Arctic Energy Services' Competency Review Board (CRB) is in place to ascertain the aptitude of employees; monitoring the advancement of employees, and mentoring those who show strong aptitude in their field. The CRB is comprised of individuals from the company's Operations, Safety and Human Resources teams.

On-Site Training Facility
High Arctic has a fully-operational training well on-site at the corporate head office in Red Deer, Alberta. The training well, a 120 metre wellbore, can be fully equipped with a derrick, snubbing unit and is pressurized to simulate an actual wellsite. This training well is utilized during competency level courses to provide hands-on practical experience to course attendees. Customer training courses are also held at the Red Deer facility, utilizing the training well and expansive training facilities on site to educate customers on the benefits of snubbing operations.

Snubbing Services Assessors
Petroleum Competency Program
High Arctic Energy Services has certified Snubbing Assessors who evaluate employees in the snubbing division according to the competencies and assessment process of the Petroleum Competency Program, a certification program managed by the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada. The Alberta government has made snubbing services a designated occupation in Alberta. Becoming certified is optional, but it can lead to greater job mobility, transferability and promotional opportunities.

SAFETY TRAINING
Certified Training - InHouse

Orientation
IRP 16 - Basic Safety Training
High Arctic Energy Services requires all employees to complete an Orientation within 7 days of hire. This course meets all requirements as set out in IRP-16, and is designed to raise worker awareness of their responsibilities in the workplace and instruct on how to recognize and work safely around hazards of oil and gas operations. The overall message during Orientation stresses that workers need to take responsibility for their own personal safety, as well as the safety of those they work with and around; workers right to refuse unsafe work is also emphasized during the course. The duration of this course is approximately 8 hours and certification is received upon completion.

WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System)
WHMIS is designed to instruct the employer and employees in the safe handling of hazardous materials used in the workplace. It educates the student on how to understand the labeling of dangerous goods, where to find information about the product, and what information to look for. This information is used to prevent incidents causing injury or death due to misunderstanding of chemical hazards in the workplace. Employees are provided with a self-teach manual and exam; certification is issued upon receipt of a passed grade on the exam. Certification is valid for a period of three (3) years.

TDG (Transportation of Dangerous Goods)
TDG is an information system developed to familiarize shippers, receivers, and carriers of the hazards of dealing with dangerous goods and to teach safe handling practices when dealing with dangerous goods for the protection of the public and environment. Many products in the petrochemical industry require transport or movement from production to storage, sales, or use. These products must be identified, marked, and handled as dangerous goods to prevent incident and/or damage. Employees are provided with a self-teach manual and exam; certification is issued upon receipt of a passed grade on the exam. Certification is valid for a period of three (3) years.

Fit Test
High Arctic Energy Services field employees are required to pass a quantitative fit test to ensure the worker will be properly protected while in a hazardous environment. High Arctic Energy Services uses a quantitative fit testing method to make a direct measurement of respirator fit factors. The measurement is made while the person simultaneously performs dynamic moving and/or breathing exercises designed to stress the respirator seal in ways that simulate anticipated workplace activity. Certification is issued upon successful completion of the fit-testing; certification is valid for a period of one (1) year.

Bear Awareness
High Arctic Energy Services employees are required to complete Bear Awareness training. The training is comprised of two (2) videos that are viewed back to back. These videos provide important information to help reduce human injuries and property damage as well as reduce unnecessary bear deaths. Staying Safe in Bear Country is the main 50-minute video that is a stand-alone educational tool for anyone living, traveling, or working in bear country. It includes the consensus opinion of leading experts on bear behaviour and its relevance to human safety. People who watch the video will develop a better understanding of bear behaviour and how this knowledge can help them prevent bear encounters and attacks. Working in Bear Country is a 20-minute module to the main video that provides more detailed information specific to people working in bear country. Certification is issued once the training is complete; certification is valid for the duration of employment.

Driver Training
Evaluations and License Upgrading
High Arctic Energy Services employees are evaluated and/or trained to competently operate the vehicles/equipment which they are required to operate in order to perform the tasks and needs of the company.

Training shall provide employees with the skills to ensure they are able to perform their work/driving activities with both competency and proficiency, and also to ensure the safety of the public, their co-workers, and themselves.

Benefits accrued from the driver training program include:

Prior to an employee being permitted to drive any company equipment, the individual must pass a driver evaluation at their current class of license (i.e.: Class 5, 3Q, or 1) with one of our certified driver trainers. If the employee requires a Class 3Q or 1 driver's license for their position, or if the employee possesses a Class 3Q or 1 license but requires additional training as assessed during the evaluation, a certified driver trainer will spend up to 25 hours with the individual, providing practical training and valuable in-truck experience.

For employees upgrading to a Class 3Q or 1 driver's license, after the training hours are complete and the employee is deemed competent, the employee goes to an approved Alberta Registry Agent to complete the written exam. Once this is successfully passed, the employee is signed up for a practical driver exam with an external licensed driver examiner. When the employee has passed the practical, written and undergone the required medical, all documents are taken to an Alberta Registries Agency to have the new class of license issued. A copy of the license must be submitted to the HR department prior to being released to drive HAES equipment.

In additional to being deemed a competent driver, employees must meet established standards and certifications prior to being permitted to operate company vehicles. High Arctic has identified a number of courses and procedures that are minimum requirements for our drivers. These include possessing a clean driver's abstract, adhering to all company policies and procedures, vehicle safe operating standards, and Provincial and Federal laws.

CERTIFIED TRAINING - External
High Arctic Energy Services sources external safety training providers to provide further training to its employees to ensure they receive the training required for their positions within the Company. External courses sourced for field employees include, but are not limited to; H2S Alive, Standard First Aid Level A CPR, General Oilfield Driver Improvement (GODI), Fall Protection for Rig Work, Rig Rescue for Rig Work, Well Service Blowout Prevention, Confined Space Entry and Rescue, Detection and Control of Flammable Substances, Wellhead Boom Truck Operators Course and Special Oilwell Boiler course.

Continued Education
High Arctic Energy Services believes in providing its employees with all the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential in their careers, and in providing any assistance, educational or otherwise, for those individuals to meet their goals and objectives. Continued education assistance is available for any eligible HAES employee for outside training courses that are relevant to an employee's career path. Such training could include; ongoing university degrees, ongoing college diplomas, technical school programs (tradesman), on-line courses, evening / part time courses through local or remote college / university programs, upgrading of current post secondary education and/or day or multiple day seminars.

Educational and Training Information Links: