Helideck Emergency Response Team Member Training Standard

This Product is for personnel who are to be appointed to the role of the Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM).

Training and competence assessment of OPITO-approved Helideck Emergency Response Team Members (HERTMs) will comprise both onshore training and offshore workplace training and assessment. This Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM) Training Products form part of a wider industry Helideck Training and Competence Framework including helideck operations initial training, helideck emergency response team member and team leader initial/further training and associated helideck role workplace competence assessment standards. Further information on the wider industry Helideck Training and Competence Framework is depicted in the Helideck Training and Competence Framework - See supporting document.

Appointment of HERTMs and HERTLs

The Installation, MODU or vessel Duty Holder is responsible for ensuring that personnel appointed to Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM) and Helideck Emergency Response Team Leader (HERTL) roles have received sufficient training and gained relevant experience to undertake the role(s) competently and safely.

The Duty Holder must ensure that, apart from the provision of onshore training:

a) Workplace training is provided and workplace competence assessment is conducted,

AND

b) Additional Training - e.g. Dangerous Goods by Air Awareness (DGbA), radio operator’s certificate of competence (HERTL only), helicopter refueling (where required) additional helideck operations initial training (where they have been out of the role for 3 or more years) and meteorological/weather reporting training (where required by duty holder) is provided before the HERTL or HERTM is appointed to the role(s).

OPITO-certified HERTM Training

(1) The HERTM Initial Training will be conducted at an onshore training centre

(2) The HERTM Further Training – this programme involves updating and refreshing relevant knowledge and undertaking practical emergency response training in the HERTM role not able to be conducted offshore.

This Product aims to equip Offshore Helideck emergency response personnel with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to perform an emergency response team member role in offshore helideck and helicopter emergencies.

The main objectives are for learners to fully understand the role and responsibilities of a Helideck Emergency Response Team Member and practice responding to a variety of helideck firefighting and non-firefighting emergency scenarios in a training environment.

The entry requirements for the HERTM Training are: 

a) A valid OPITO Helideck Operations Initial Training Certificate or a valid OPITO Offshore Helideck Assistant (HDA) Initial Training Certificate Or b) A valid OPITO HERTM or OPITO HERTL Workplace Competence Assessment Or 

c) A valid OPITO Helideck Emergency Response Team Leader Training Certificate Or 

d) A valid OPITO Helideck Emergency Response Team Leader Further Training Certificate

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. Therefore, OPITO-approved training centres are required, as a minimum, to ensure that prior to participating in practical exercises the learner is declared fit, in that they 

a)Possess a valid, current offshore medical certificate or 

b)Possess an operator approved medical certificate, And 

c)Undergo medical screening by completing an appropriate medical screening form provided by the OPITO-approved Centre 

The OPITO-approved Centre shall keep a record of the learners’ declaration(s) 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 current or pre-existing medical conditions that could have adverse effects to the individual’s state of health while undertaking the training and/or assessment activities lies with the learner and/or company sponsoring the learner. Where doubt exists regarding the fitness of any learner, the OPITO-approved Centre must 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 learners any demands other than those required to meet the Product.

To achieve the Helideck Emergency Response Team Member Training the learner will need to complete the 3 mandatory units. 

26 hours 

Note: For the HERTM, HERTM Further Training, HERTL and HERTL Further Training programmes, the guided learning hours may differ to accommodate company/installation emergency response teams. However all other requirements of the Product must be met, unless stated otherwise.

Helideck Emergency Response Team Member Further Training or Helideck Emergency Response Team Leader Initial Training

2 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.