Providing flexibility and safety to energy workers: OPITO’s updated helicopter underwater escape training offering

Helicopters play an important role in transferring the global energy workforce safely offshore. 

Across the energy mix, workers increasingly need to be prepared for helicopter travel. Within the growing market of offshore renewable energy projects, operations are executed within deep waters and crew transfers are now often made via helicopter as opposed to exclusively by boat.

This is why OPITO has granted greater flexibility for training centres to offer helicopter underwater escape training (HUET) to offshore workers, in line with energy industry diversification. 

Global training centres can now offer OPITO’s HUET as a standalone course, irrespective of offering full basic offshore safety induction and emergency training (BOSIET) on site. This move allows global training centres to offer further variety of courses and passes efficiencies to industry workers, enabling increased mobility and tailored training across different parts of the energy sector.

OPITO’s approved HUET standard ensures offshore workers will benefit from the assurance of being equipped to deal with relevant and extensive helicopter-related scenarios, across the energy mix. 

What is a HUET-only standard?

In a simulated environment, energy workers undertaking the HUET courses will demonstrate competence in using safety equipment and following procedures when preparing for and during helicopter emergencies, with a particular focus on escaping from a helicopter following ditching.

The HUET standards provide the opportunity to achieve safety approval for tailored environments and scenarios, including: 

• HUET with emergency breathing system, for those who will be supplied with a rebreather emergency breathing system (EBS) during offshore helicopter travel.
• HUET with compressed air emergency breathing system, for those who will be supplied with a compressed air emergency breathing system (CA-EBS) during offshore helicopter travel.
• Tropical HUET, for those who will undertake helicopter travel in a tropical environment.

Why is this important?

HUET-only courses provide opportunities for organisations and workers to select the necessary level of training standards required for work across the energy industry, from oil and gas to renewables.

At OPITO, we are constantly adapting and responding to industry megatrends and the requirements of the workforce and training centres as we accelerate towards net zero. 

We are committed to enabling offshore energy personnel to feel secure and confident that they have the highest level of competence training when it comes to ensuring a safe journey offshore and when returning home. 

For more information, contact your OPITO focal point or regional office.