Necessity is the Mother of Invention

March 26th 2020
By: Cari-Ann Carty

Necessity is the mother of invention. I’m not the first one to reference this proverb while we’re all “hunkered down” and trying to figure out how to work without gathering. With the current precautions in place for COVID-19, the Alaska Safety Alliance has discontinued in-person training.

(For now) our office is closed, and all face-to-face instructor-led training has been cancelled until further notice, including BP Induction and ConocoPhillips Alaska Permit to Work classes. Please communicate with your employer, or your BP or ConocoPhillips contact person, for information on badging.

As of March 24, 2020, the Alaska Safety Alliance team is now working from home as we join all Alaskans to “flatten the curve” and prevent the spread of COVID-19. From the relative safety of our living rooms, spare rooms, and dining rooms, the ASA team is testing options for distance-delivery of the NSTC Unescorted course and other required courses. We are trying out a mix of video-conferencing platforms, testing how they perform in conjunction with the ASA online learning platform. This project is moving quickly; please look for progress updates on our website home page.

Staff have set up remote workstations and are available by phone or email. Team members’ direct phone numbers are operational and being forwarded to them. We’ve had more chances to see each other during the day as we test technology and strive to create an easy-to-use tool for our instructors and trainees. Plus, we’ve had several fun and interesting guests appear at our team meetings – toddlers cannot resist the video camera!

We will be posting updates to our website www.alaskasafetyalliance.org , but feel free to call or email with questions – or just to chat. We are happy to meet with you over Google Hangouts or other videoconference service. You may even get to know us better as surprise visitors appear in the camera shot (kiddos, pets, spouses, who knows!)

Though our office is not open regular hours, we are still filling orders for NSTC material and providing replacement NSTC cards. Please help us to meet your needs by allowing plenty of time for order fulfillment. NSTC card replacement is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call (907) 770-5250.