The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has responded to allegations that oil training companies are withholding training certificates from employees participating in the Gulf cleanup operation.

According to industry journal Occupational Health and Safety, there have been a number of complaints that companies have failed to provide workers with Hazwoper training certificates, with many claimed to be doing so to prevent employees seeking work elsewhere.

Commenting on the claims, the organisation's chief executive Dr David Michaels said that there are no grounds for delaying the provision of certification for trainees who have successfully completed Hazwoper training.

"The requirement to provide written certification implies a requirement to provide it with reasonable promptness," he said.

Thousands of workers have been recruited and trained since April 20nd, when the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig that caused the spill occurred.

Although the well has now been capped, the cleanup operation is still ongoing.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development