HERTM Inital Course Programme
Theoretical Training
Helideck Emergency Response Preparedness
Helideck Emergency Response Pre-Planning
- The role and key responsibilities of a Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM).
- The requirement for helideck emergency response pre-planning.
- The main elements of a helicopter emergency response plan.
- Examples of emergency scenarios involving helicopter operations and the emergency response requirements for the HLO/HERTL and HDA/HERTM, including:
- Helicopter collision on the helideck.
- Helicopter engine fire.
- Fire on an offshore installation or vessel.
- Fire during helicopter refuelling operations.
- Aviation fuel fire.
- Emergency or precautionary landing on the helideck.
- Attempted landing without landing gear.
- Emergency helicopter movements and evacuation operations, such as medical evacuation.
- Use of a helicopter during a man-overboard incident.
- Events that may have a significant impact on flight safety, including:
- Aviation fuel contamination.
- Obstructed helideck.
- Landing on the wrong helideck or offshore installation.
- Changes in the status of an installation, MODU or vessel while the helicopter is on the helideck.
- The overall aims and objectives of helideck fire safety and how these are achieved.
- Emergency response practice, including offshore drills and onshore training with and without live fire.
Helideck and Helicopter Emergency Systems and Controls
- Fixed helideck firefighting equipment and systems, including the performance requirements for foam equipment:
- Speed of foam production.
- Reliability through weekly testing and routine maintenance.
- Foam quality.
- Deck Integrated Fire Fighting Systems (DIFFS).
- Mobile helideck firefighting systems and equipment.
- Minimum helideck rescue equipment, as specified by international guidance.
- Helicopter emergency systems and controls that may be activated by the HLO or HDA/HERTM, including:
- Engine shutdown.
- Fuel isolation.
- Fixed onboard firefighting and protection systems.
HLO Emergency Response on Normally Unattended Installations
Emergency Response Requirements on Normally Unattended Installations
- Planning for helicopter-related emergencies on a Normally Unattended Installation with limited emergency response capability, including situations where:
- A helicopter is on the helideck.
- No helicopter is present on the helideck.
- Requirements for firefighting and rescue equipment and extinguishing media on Normally Unattended Installations.
- Limited accommodation facilities where personnel are required to remain on the installation longer than expected.
- Provision and location of first aid equipment on Normally Unattended Installations.
- Consideration of alternative evacuation arrangements where no helicopter is available.
HDA: Helideck Emergency Response Team Member
HDA/HERTM Helideck and Helicopter Emergency Response
- The effects of human factors during emergency response, including the impact of stress on decision-making ability, physical exhaustion and other relevant factors.
- Potential hazards during emergency response operations, including:
- Fire.
- Electricity.
- Helicopter construction materials.
- Dangerous goods cargo.
- Activation of landing-gear or emergency flotation systems.
- Personal protective equipment required by the HDA/HERTM during emergency response operations.
- How different helicopter types may affect the emergency response.
- Emergency response arrangements.
- Breathing-apparatus operations and control procedures.
- Effective Search and Rescue (SAR) principles and techniques on or near the helideck following a helideck incident.
- Relevant helideck and helicopter equipment and controls.
- Firefighting equipment and guidance on when and where different extinguishing media should be used.
- Monitoring environmental conditions and assessing their impact on the emergency response.
- Techniques for remaining calm during an emergency response.
- Requesting assistance when physically or mentally overwhelmed by the emergency situation.
- Effective communication with the HLO and other team members through clear and concise instructions and requests.
- Providing the HLO with timely updates on progress against the emergency response plan.
- Responding correctly to the HLO’s instructions during an emergency.
- Under the direction of the HLO, approaching the incident area in a controlled manner while continuously monitoring how changing conditions may affect the safety of other team members.
- Carrying out assigned emergency response duties.
- Conducting firefighting operations following a helicopter incident, including responding to a helicopter engine fire using an extendable CO₂ applicator.
- Correct use of breathing apparatus when instructed by the HLO.
- Effective Search and Rescue principles and techniques on or near the helideck following a helideck incident.
- Responding appropriately to non-fire-related helicopter incidents.
- Effective use of fixed and mobile firefighting systems.
- Responding to a helideck fire on a Normally Unattended Installation with limited firefighting equipment.
- Working with the reserve emergency response team when required.
- Correct casualty-handling techniques.
Practical Training
Practical Emergency Response Exercises for the HLO and HERTM
- Emergency access to and evacuation from the helicopter and helideck.
- Maintaining a safe escape route from the incident area.
- Responding to non-fire emergencies.
- Selecting firefighting equipment appropriate to the incident.
- Using fixed fire monitors.
- Using mobile and portable firefighting and rescue equipment, including fire-control and extinguishing equipment such as dry-powder and CO₂ extinguishers.
- Responding to Class A fires resulting from a helicopter incident.
- Responding to Class B fires involving flammable-liquid or aviation-fuel spills resulting from a helicopter incident.
- Fire-hose deployment techniques and associated hazards.
- Locating, extracting and managing missing persons and casualties following a helicopter incident on the helideck.
- Breathing-apparatus control procedures.
- Using breathing apparatus; all participants must don and operate the equipment.
