HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Doing Paint Inspection Offshore? Your Current Certificate Is Not Enough Markéta Součková Paint-Inspector.Com s.r.o., Brno, Czech Republic
marketa.s@paint-inspector.com
Miguel Parra Corvera © Paint-Inspector.Com
A
s a paint inspector, you might be asked to go through different types of
training in order to oversee certain offshore projects. In order to work on an oil platform in the middle of
Even though the training is only three days, it takes a lot of courage and discipline to finish the course. The training includes physically difficult and potentially stressful elements. Before an acceptance
the sea, you will most likely have to
to the course, there is a need to
undergo the Basic Offshore Safety
provide a medical certificate.
Induction & Emergency Training
During these three days,
(BOSIET), including the Helicopter
participants learn theory as well as
Underwater Escape Training
go through a practical training.
(HUET) with Emergency Breathing
Safety induction, helicopter safety
System.
and escape, sea survival and first
Oil and gas companies worldwide
aid, and fire fighting and self-
require appropriate offshore
rescue are the topics to learn.
safety and emergency trainings
The first day is theoretical, the
from everybody who travels to
second day starts the real-life
their offshore assets such as oil
practice, which is most likely the
platforms (Fig. 1). Paint inspectors or those who already accepted the job must undergo these safety trainings as well.
hardest part of the entire training.
1
wanting to get a job at a platform
The demonstration of the rescue
Figure 1: Oil and gas companies worldwide require appropriate offshore safety and emergency trainings from everybody who travels to their offshore assets such as oil platforms.
boats and hands-on experience by visiting one of them is still not the worst part. The real challenge
The goal of these trainings is
starts in a swimming pool with
to teach attendees the generic
the helicopter underwater escape
hazards that can occur at the offshore oil and gas installations, potential risks associated with those hazards and how to eliminate or reduce them. Attendees also need to learn basic emergency response and skills from travelling to and from offshore installation by a helicopter and demonstrate (in a simulated environment) that they can use safety equipment during helicopter emergencies and follow procedures during a crash. This 3-day training might seem like an easy task to do before a fun ride in a helicopter, however, these impressions are deceptive.
22
training. Students have to actually escape
As a paint inspector, you might be asked to go through different types of training in order to oversee certain offshore projects. In order to work on an oil platform in the middle of the sea, you will most likely have to undergo the Basic Offshore Safety Induction & Emergency Training (BOSIET), including the Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) with Emergency Breathing System.”
N. 52 - JULY/AUGUST 2018 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
the helicopter simulator. They need to unstrap themselves and leave the helicopter, however, they need to overcome few bumps on the road such as orientate themselves after the simulator twists or kicking out the window on their way to the surface. “Going underwater and going upside down is the weirdest feeling,” says Richard van der Wal, managing director at Paint-Inspector.Com (Fig. 2), “even though you know there is no danger at the moment you need to calm down and think straight.”