Review of BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training) Course..

In every kind of profession there are a variety of professional hazards to deal with and people’s suitability to any particular job is tested on the basis of their response to these hazards. Working at sea has been classified as one of the ten most dangerous jobs in the world.

The emergency training that is offered to people who work in an offshore facility or are about to join offshore vessels is known as BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training). BOSIET is a very simple training program that covers all major and minor points of safe working in the offshore facility. The course duration is mainly of three days. 

The various aspects of the BOSIET training program can be explained below:

  

• The first step in the offshore training program is about Safety Inductions. This aspect deals with all the necessary steps that a newly inducted person is required to follow while working in the oil drill. Points on how to react in case there is any emergency situation like fire, accidents of waste-water disposal systems and drugs and alcohol abuse are covered under this BOSIET head.
• The second step in the BOSIET emergency training about Safety and Escaping. This point covers all about training a person on how to board a helicopter in case of an emergency, how to use breathing equipments in case of any hazard and how to help co-workers during a critical situation.
• Sea Survival is the third aspect of BOSIET. This includes the point of knowing when to abandon the offshore drill and how to survive in the high sea for extended periods of time until rescue operators arrive on the scene.
• Fire fighting and Self-Rescue is the fourth point covered by BOSIET. Fire fighting application in offshore drill areas includes knowledge about operating hoses and other smaller fire extinguishers. In addition, workers also need to know about the causes and reasons for the start of fire. Other points in the fourth BOSIET emergency training deal with individual safety in case of reduced sight due to smoke.

BOSIET is just a first step in terms of offshore survival training courses. After gaining the required safety training through BOSIET, a person can opt for further emergency training courses. The validity of this course is for four years. After the validity period is over, in order to continue with the validation there is a refresher course that is also offered. The duration of the refresher course is one day. If by any chance, an offshore oil drill worker fails to take the refresher course then the person has to repeat the entire BOSIET test again to continue working in the oil drill.

The BOSIET emergency training is offered in all countries. The training that is imparted contains both theory and practical application so that the learner can understand all the aspects easily. The total hours of training comes to around 22.5 hours. In order to certify that a person has successfully completed the training, a certificate is issued to the person.

Working in offshore areas is very difficult. But, as much as risky offshore drill areas are, it cannot be denied that they are equally necessary. This is why with the help of BOSIET a very important preventive measure towards reducing the chances of any human loss is carried out.

Course Overview..

The OPITO( Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (UK))  Approved  BOSIET course is 3 days in duration and the cost of a basic course is around £600, plus any accommodation costs.

Certification is valid for 4 years, and a refresher Further Offshore Emergency Training (FOET - 1 day) must be completed before your basic certificate expires otherwise the whole 3 day course must be repeated. There are no exceptions to this rule.

What is BOSIET ?

The BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training) course is designed for personnel intending to work on an offshore installation all around the world  and forms part of a Common Offshore Safety Induction process.

The course provides an awareness of the hazards encountered when travelling to and from offshore installations, offshore safety regime and safety management systems. It also includes theoretical and practical training in sea survival, including first aid, basic fire fighting and self rescue, helicopter safety and escape ,sea survival inclusive of TEMPSC and first aid.

Course Length: 24 hrs (3 Days)

Course Price: $1100/£600

The Standard: The OPITO standards are a set of training and/or competence standards, produced and agreed by the offshore oil and gas industry covering a variety of offshore emergency response duties and occupational roles.

This course is accepted in most regions of the world where oil and gas industries operate.

Aim: The BOSIET will also equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond appropriately in the event of an offshore emergency and to enhance their survivability through proper use of emergency equipment and procedures.

Course Objectives..

The objectives of the BOSIET training are that students will be able to:

• Identify the generic hazards which are specific to offshore oil & gas installations, potential risks associated with those hazards, and how controls are put in place to eliminate or reduce risks.

• Identify key offshore related safety regulations and explain the basic safety management concepts.

• Demonstrate, in a simulated environment, that they can use the safety equipment and follow procedures in preparing for, and during, helicopter emergencies - with particular focus on escaping from a helicopter following ditching.

• Demonstrate sea survival and first aid techniques.

• Demonstrate that they can effectively use basic firefighting equipment, and practice self-rescue techniques in low visibility situations, including smoke filled areas.

The course provides attendees with a basic level of understanding and awareness of safety and emergency response on offshore installations.

Topics Covered…

The course focuses on the 4 following  Modules…

MODULE 1 Learning Outcomes: Safety Induction

To successfully complete this module, students must be able to:

Offshore hazards, their control and consequences. Waste disposal/ environmental awareness. How offshore safety is regulated. How offshore safety is managed. Procedures for prescribed medicines. Alcohol and substance abuse policy. PPE requirements. Procedures for reporting incidents, accidents and near misses. Role of the Medic.

• Identify the main offshore hazards and hazard effects/consequences; explain their associated risks, and how they are controlled.

• Explain the potential environmental impact of offshore installation operations.

• Identify key offshore installation safety regulations and explain the basic concept of these regulations.

• Explain the principles of managing safety on offshore installations.

• State the procedure for prescribed medicines offshore.

• Explain the concept of alcohol and substance abuse policy.

• Explain PPE requirements of working on an offshore installation.

• Explain how to report incidents, accidents, and near misses on an offshore installation.

• Explain the role of the offshore medic.

MODULE 2 Learning Outcomes: Helicopter Safety and Escape

To successfully complete this module, students must be able to demonstrate:

Pre boarding. Safe boarding. In flight safety. Safe disembarkation. In flight emergency actions. Use of emergency breathing system equipment. Practical emergency escape breathing system training. Practical emergency ditching and escape training.

• Donning an aviation transit suit, aviation lifejacket, and Emergency Breathing System (EBS) equipment and conducting EBS integrity checks.

• Actions to take in preparation for a helicopter ditching and an emergency landing.

• Actions following a controlled emergency descent to a dry landing with evacuation via a nominated exit.

• Deployment, operation and breathing from the EBS in a pool utilizing personal air prior to Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) exercises.

• Actions following a controlled ditching on water (including deploying the EBS and, on instruction from aircrew, operation of a push out window) and evacuation through a nominated exit to an aviation life raft.

• Assisting others where possible in carrying out initial actions on boarding the aviation life raft, including mooring lines, deploying the sea anchor, raising the canopy and raft maintenance.

• Escaping through a window opening which is underwater, from a partially submerged helicopter.

• Escaping through a window opening which is underwater, from a partially submerged helicopter utilizing EBS.

• Escaping through a window opening which is underwater, from a partially submerged helicopter utilizing an EBS and operating a push-out window.

• Escaping through a window opening which is underwater, from a capsized helicopter

• Escaping through a window opening which is underwater, from a capsized helicopter utilizing EBS.

• Escaping through a window opening which is underwater, from a capsized helicopter utilizing an EBS and operating a push-out window.

• Inflating an aviation lifejacket and deploying a spray visor in water.

• Boarding an aviation life raft from water.

MODULE 3 Learning Outcomes: Sea Survival and First Aid

To successfully complete this module, delegates must be able to demonstrate:

Abandonment theory and practical sea survival training. Actions for mustering and boarding of a survival craft, and actions as a passenger during launching operations. Use of helicopter rescue strops, and winching procedures. Emergency first aid including CPR.

• Donning of a permanent buoyancy lifejacket prior to use in an emergency.

• The correct actions when mustering and boarding a survival craft (Totally Enclosed Motor Propelled Survival Craft: TEMPSC) as a passenger during launching operations.

• Fitting of a helicopter strop and correct body posture during winching.

• Individual and group sea survival techniques, to include: swimming, getting into Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP), wave-slap protection, towing, chain, huddle and circle.

• Boarding a marine life raft from the water.

• Immediate first aid actions, to include: Airway Breathing & CPR (ABC).

MODULE 4 Learning Outcomes: Firefighting and Self-Rescue

To successfully complete this module, delegates must be able to demonstrate:

Nature and causes of fire. Fixed systems and response. Use of hand held extinguishers. Operation of fixed hose reels. Self rescue techniques in reduced visibility and completely obscured visibility. Use of escape hoods.

• Correct use of hand-held portable fire extinguishers and which ones to use for different classes of fires.

• Self-rescue techniques with a smoke hood from areas where visibility is reduced due to smoke.

• Self-rescue techniques with a smoke hood from areas where visibility is completely obscured.

• Small group escape techniques with a smoke hood from areas where visibility is completely obscured.

Prerequisite..

Training and assessment activities contained within this standard include physically demanding and potentially stressful elements. All personnel who participate in such activities must be physically and mentally capable of participating fully. Prior to participating in practical exercises, the student must be fit for training* and able to:

• Hold their breath underwater for 10 seconds.

• Move through water using their arms.

• Wear and use a lifejacket and survival suit in a pool.

• Re-breathe using an EBS for up to 30 seconds.

• Sit in class for up to 60 minutes per session.

• Step into a pool from a height of 1m / 3.2ft.

• Use upper body muscles (lifting and pulling actions)when climbing in/out of a life raft.

• Lift and operate a 12 kg / 26.5 lbs. fire extinguisher.
• Wear a smoke hood in a potentially warm environment.

Safety First: 

Safety Management Systems (SMS)regards your safety first and suggests the following: Candidates that are concerned with  participating in practical exercises due to current or pre-existing medical conditions should consult their primary care provider prior to the onset of the training program as to the nature and extent of the training.

All students must produce the following prior to the onset of training:

• Valid (photographic) government identification

Written exam: Students will be required to take a 30-minute written test at the end of Module 1 as a method of checking that they have met all the Module 1 learning outcomes. It is an open-book test. A minimum test score of 80% is required. After Pass the Examination BOSIET Certificate will be provided by OPITO.

 Prepared and Collection by M.Ajmal Khan.