This Product is for personnel who have been deemed ready by their employer to be formally assessed in the role of an OIM, Deputy for OIM, or Emergency Deputy for OIM, during an emergency situation.

The oil and gas industry recognises that a major objective is to prevent incidents from occurring and, if they do occur, to control them and minimize their effect. It is important, therefore, to set common standards and to ensure that personnel are continuously trained, assessed and reassessed against these summaries of best practice.

Before employees can be assessed against standards they will require the knowledge and skills to enable them to carry out the tasks involved. This may require basic training, practice, relevant experience or regular drills and exercises to be undertaken before an official assessment can be held.

This Product introduces and describes the competence statements, safety training and further practice for OIMs controlling emergencies. It also explains how competence shall be assessed and certified for this role.

It must be recognised that this document is only part of a broader training programme. There will also be company and installation-specific emergency response training most of which will be conducted offshore as drills and exercises.

It is the responsibility of the Duty Holder to ensure the competency of the OIM Controlling Emergencies. A major factor in the judgment should be the performance of the OIM in controlling emergencies under simulated conditions according to this OPITO Product. It is however important to note that such simulated assessments should be firmly placed in the context of the overall process employed by the Duty Holder. This process should include the company selection, training and on-the-job appraisal and assessment procedures, the competence profile of the OIM or potential OIM together with the record of their past experience, particularly any experience of controlling real incidents or emergencies.

This Product covers the formal assessment of the the learner in the role of an OIM during an emergency situation in a simulated environment.

Note: All evidence must be provided prior to any certificate being awarded

A formal declaration and supporting evidence from the learner’s employer confirming that the learner has achieved the performance criteria in Outcome 1 Maintain a state of readiness in the workplace, satisfied the core essential knowledge criteria 1.7 and asset type knowledge requirements criteria 1.8 and that the learner has been deemed ready for formal assessment against outcomes 2 - 6.

See supporting document OIM Duty Holder Declaration.

Medical entry requirements

Training and/or assessment 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 Centres are required, to ensure that prior to participating in practical exercises the learner undergoes 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 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 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 should direct the individual to consult a medical officer familiar with the nature and extent of the training.

Note: Practical exercises should 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 OIM Controlling Emergencies Competence the learner will need to complete the 1 mandatory unit.

There are no specific timings for the duration of the OIM Controlling Emergencies Workplace Competence assessment(s). However, sufficient time and access to learners must be arranged in order to ensure that all required performance criteria can be successfully assessed during a minimum of 3 emergency scenarios.

A maximum of 4 attempts to achieve the successful assessment of the 3 emergency scenarios is permitted.

This Product has no direct links to any other Product

No formal expiry date, however, it is recommended that learners are re-assessed, as a minimum, every 3 years.

Please note: If the expiry date on the learners previous certificate is within 3 months 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.