Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) with Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System (CA-EBS)

This Product is to meet the offshore safety and emergency response training requirements for personnel new (or returning) to the offshore energy industry who will be supplied with a compressed air emergency breathing system (CA-EBS) during offshore helicopter travel.

This Product is to prepare learners that intend to travel to and from offshore installations and vessels by helicopter by providing specific training in pre-flight and in-flight requirements and to equip learners with the basic emergency response knowledge and skills required in the event of a helicopter emergency – with a specific focus on escaping from a helicopter following ditching.

The objectives of the HUET (with CA-EBS) Training are that learners will be able to:

(a) 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.

Medical Entry Requirements

Training activities contained within this Product may include physically demanding and potentially stressful elements. All personnel who participate in such activities must be capable of participating fully.

OPITO-approved Centres are therefore required, as a minimum, to ensure that prior to participating in practical exercises the learners must either:

(a) Possess a valid, current offshore medical certificate or
(b) Possess an employing company approved medical certificate equivalent to an offshore medical certificate, or
(c) Undergoes medical screening by completing an appropriate medical screening form provided by the OPITO-approved centre.

Additional Medical Requirements specific to Additional CA-EBS Training (In-Water).

Note 1: Requirements within items d) and e) below denoted with an asterisk (*) are UK requirements only. Non-UK Training Centres must ensure (and be able to demonstrate) that any specific National and/or State medical requirements relating to learners participating in in-water CA-EBS training are fully complied with and are supported by suitable and sufficient risk assessments.

OPITO-approved training centres are required to ensure that prior to participating in in-water CA-EBS practical exercises the learner:

d) Possesses a valid, unexpired Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) offshore medical certificate confirming the learner’s fitness for offshore work* OR possesses a valid, unexpired offshore medical certificate issued by a body outside of the UK which is recognised as equivalent to the OEUK medical certificate of fitness for offshore work* OR possesses a valid, unexpired, medical certificate of fitness to work at sea*, AND

e) Possesses a certificate of fitness to undertake shallow water CA-EBS training issued by a registered OEUK examining doctor*, OR, where the medical fitness certificate for work at sea includes a restriction or is subject to conditions, possesses a statement from an appropriately registered practitioner that the restriction or condition does not result from a respiratory or ENT condition and there is no absolute contraindication to the shallow water learner’s participation in the training*, AND
f) On the date on which the learner is to undertake shallow water CA-EBS training, and prior to entering the water in which the training takes place, the learner gives to the OPITO-approved Centre a statement, that to the best of the learner’s knowledge and belief, the learner has no (current or past) medical condition which makes the learner unfit to participate in the training.

Learners must not participate in Additional CA-EBS Training (In-Water) practical exercises if they are unable to meet the requirements of d, e) and f) above.

Note 2: Please note that learners who possess a valid and current certificate of medical fitness provided by an Approved Medical Examiner of Diving (AMED) will not be required to undertake d) and e) above as they have already met the requirements of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997.

The OPITO-approved Centre shall keep a record of the learner’s declaration of fitness in accordance with their document control policy(s) or procedures.

This information, along with summary details of the type of physical activities the learner will be asked to perform, will be given to learners by the OPITO-approved Centre and, if applicable, to their sponsoring company as part of the joining instructions. The responsibility for declaring any known current or pre-existing medical conditions that could have adverse effects to the individual’s state of health while undertaking the training activities lies with the learner and/or company sponsoring the learner.

Where doubt exists regarding the fitness of any learner, the OPITO-approved Centre should direct the individual to consult a medical officer familiar with the nature and extent of the training.

Note: Practical exercises must be designed and delivered solely to meet this Product, and must not place on the learner any demands other than those required to meet the Product.

To achieve the Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (with Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System) Training the learner will need to complete the mandatory unit.

6 hours and 10 minutes.

4 years

Please note: If the expiry date on the learners previous certificate is within 90 days prior of the course enrolment date then the date of the new certificate should correspond with the expiry date of the existing/previous certificate unless stated otherwise by the Duty Holder or Asset Owner or Operator.