Large organisations in oil & gas, banking & finance, and the public sector use e-learning as a strategic competence development tool.  Common to all is how e-learning contributes to cost savings.  In 2009, approximately 200 000 e-learning courses will be completed on Trainingportal, most of which focus on HSE.

Studies show that a significant percentage of industrial accidents are the result of either inadequate training or that management doesn't properly understand the risks associated with their decisions.  At the Work at Hight Conference (Høydekonferansen), we will be asking whether focusing on cost savings and using e-learning as a strategic tool actually contributes to improved safety, or whether focusing on costs rather leads to inadequate practical training for personnel performing hazardous work.

• Trond Markussen has long experience in e-learning at DnB Nor.  Markussen is also the Director of Innovation Norway's Research and Educational Network.
• Jørn Hauge has many years experience with extensive e-learning projects at The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV).
• Tor-Ståle Hansen is a trained pilot and has recently been working with e-learning for the oil and gas industry.
• Paul Nødland, from Hytorc, has long experience in training, including courses on valve technique, and represents a company that has been approved by PSK to offer training that adheres to OLF's Industry Requirements.

These four resource people will share their experiences with e-learning and answer whether or not e-learning is good learning – when it is a good idea and when it isn't.

About the Work at Heights Conference
Høydekonferansen aims to focus on Best Practice when working at heights. Serious accidents involving fall or dropping objects are far too common in Norway as well as internationally. Our vision is to address this problem by providing an arena for exchanging ideas, sharing thoughts, and discussing solutions. We are confident that an increase in the collective competence and skills will lead to a decrease in the number of fatal accidents.

The two previous conferences have shed light on the legal framework for this kind of work. HSE-authorities governing both on and offshore industry have been present, describing their strategies and sharing thoughts. We have also, amongst other things, provided interesting status reports to the committee working to establish the new Norwegian Norm for Rope Access and from the offshore industry alliance SFS (“Working together for Safety”) and their work on common guidelines, Best Practice recommendations and training regimens for fall arrest and rescue.

Best Practice considerations are, and will continue to be, the core of the conference. Companies throughout the industrial world’s many branches still face various, differing challenges along the path towards safe and cost-effective solutions to work-at-height issues. We wish to present to you both the inspiring tales of success, and the gripping stories of failure. When told by the people involved, they are both invaluable sources of wisdom.

This year we will once again do our best to enlighten you on these subjects. The following list presents some of the issues we will focus on this year:

• Windmills and work at heights.
• Should we welcome e-learning as a good means to achieving our goals?
• Status of various new norms, guidelines and recommendations.
• When everything goes wrong, the anatomy of a fatal accident.
• Best Practice issues.

We believe that anyone with the slightest interest in work-at-height issues will benefit from what we have to offer, be it employers, HSE-personnel, supervisors/work leaders or personnel involved in training/education. We look forward to seeing you at Åndalsnes in November.

Date: 10.-11th. November

Location: Grand Hotel Bellevue, Åndalsnes, Norway (www.grandhotel.no)

Price: (NOK 5900,- Ex. VAT)

Enrollment and information: www.hoydekonferansen.no