[July 31, 2014] |
|
OPITO Makes Travelling to Work Offshore in the Gulf of Mexico safer with new survival training standard
HOUSTON, Texas --(Business Wire)--
With 2.3 million passengers travelling to work on offshore installations
by helicopter in the Gulf of Mexico every year, OPITO is making sure
every worker has the necessary training to get to work and return home
safely every trip.
The oil and gas industry's training standards body has set new and
higher standards for Tropical Helicopter Underwater Escape Training
(THUET). The training has increased from four hours to a one-day course
which must be repeated every four years. It covers how to get out of a
helicopter in the event of a ditching or controlled landing on sea as
well as rig abandonment and sea survival. The training takes an
individual through many scenarios to get them comfortable with a safe
evacuation of the helicopter whether it is upright or submerged and
upside down.
Albert Skiba, OPITO Vice President Gulf of Mexico, explained: "To date
survival training in the Gulf of Mexico has been sporadic with no common
standard and no common quality control. The new THUET standard goes well
beyond what is outlined by the BSEE Bureau of Safety Environment and
Enforcement by the US government and is designed to give offshore
workers the knowledge, competence and confidence they need to remain
safe and in the event of an incident while tavelling to work. The
initial feedback has been positive with trainees saying they felt more
engaged in the training and would be able to apply what they learned in
an emergency situation."
OPITO has developed this common training standard in partnership with
industry and training centres in the region are currently seeking
accreditation to run these courses.
Mr Skiba added: "The new training standard meets the criteria of all the
various operating companies in the region and it is anticipated that
more training centres will be seeking accreditation from OPITO to run
these courses as demand increases, In the last three years OPITO has
been raising awareness in the Gulf of Mexico of our offshore safety
training standards, recognised to be the best in the world, and as a
result the number of training centres in the region certified to run
OPITO courses has doubled."
Funded by industry for industry, OPITO is the recognised, global
authority on safety training in the oil and gas sector. The
organisation's vision is to have common safety training standards
accepted and adopted by the industry to significantly improve the safety
of the global oil and gas workforce.
OPITO works with governments, regulators and industry all over the world
to deliver improved safety training standards and workforce development
frameworks. The standards designed by OPITO, have been adopted across
the globe. More than 250,000 people per year train to the OPITO
standards in 54 countries.
OPITO's Tropical Basic Offshore Safety Induction Emergency Training
standard (TBOSIET), of which THUET is one element, is not mandatory in
the Gulf of Mexico but the organisation is hopeful that it will
eventually become a statutory requirement in this region as operators
accept the value of this three day course over what is currently being
delivered.
Group chief executive of OPITO International, David Doig concluded: "One
of the most pioneering and hi-tech industries in the world, oil and gas
operates in hostile environments and hazardous conditions. OPITO aims to
make the industry one of the safest. Every worker, on every helicopter
trip has the fundamental right to know that the people around him, or
her, are trained to the highest standards. OPITO is that standard. There
is no other like it and employers should adopt these standards."
Issued on behalf of OPITO by The BIG Partnership.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|