Integrated training for offshore and onshore emergency teams
Integrated training for offshore and onshore emergency teams
Keywords Emergency services, Fuel, Training, Integration
In a new initiative by The Fire Service College, a programme of integrated training courses has been developed for emergency teams within the offshore and onshore oil, gas and petrochemical industries. This special training brings together for the first time the key elements of the emergency team structure the emergency command team, fire team and stretcher/first aid team in one course specific to the platform in question.
The Fire Service College has combined what were previously three separate courses which addressed each team’s interests individually into a single,all-embracing, integrated training course. The course is able to build on the existing sophisticated communications infrastructure in offshore and onshore operations. It provides specific exercises tailored to the hydrocarbon/petrochemical platform on which the teams are based.
The decision to offer this innovative integrated training, using competency-based courses at management level, is a direct outcome of recommendations arising from the Piper Alpha incident. The training meets OPITO(the National Training Organisation for offshore industries) standards introduced in 1997, where major onshore platform exercises are recognized as the alternative to fire team training.
Following recent successful development work on two initial courses with BP Magnus and Chevron Alba North, The Fire Service College is now offering integrated training courses on a continuing basis at its Moreton-in-Marsh site.
Among the benefits that can be derived from the integrated training of emergency teams is the rare opportunity that it provides to get the whole team together in a non-working environment for two days a very difficult proposition in day-to-day operations both offshore and onshore. As a team-building exercise, it has obvious attractions.
Further details of integrated training for emergency teams are available on request from: Rob Clow, Enterprise Group, The Fire Service College,Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos. GL56 ORH. Tel: 01608 650831; Fax: 01608 652722; E-mail: moreton@campus.bt.com
