Tropical Further Offshore Emergency Training with Emergency Breathing System

The OPITO Tropical Further Offshore Emergency Training with Emergency Breathing System (T-FOET with EBS) is the refresher programme for offshore personnel working in tropical environments whose offshore emergency response training certificate is approaching its expiry date and who travel by helicopter where Emergency Breathing System (EBS) equipment is issued.

The programme refreshes and revalidates critical emergency response skills that cannot realistically be maintained through routine offshore drills alone, most notably helicopter underwater escape with EBS integration. The training extends the standard T-FOET helicopter escape sequence with dedicated EBS theory and a progressive EBS exercise series, including dry familiarisation, controlled breathing exercises in water, and staged underwater escape scenarios with EBS deployed.

Firefighting and self-rescue techniques, together with emergency first aid skills, are also refreshed through practical scenario-based training.

Delivered in accordance with OPITO Product Codes 5614 (Tropical FOET) and 5901 (EBS), certification is valid for four years.

T-FOET with EBS is required for offshore personnel working in tropical regions whose offshore safety certification is approaching expiry and who travel offshore by helicopter where a rebreather Emergency Breathing System (EBS) is issued.

The course is typically undertaken by personnel working on offshore platforms, FPSOs, drilling rigs, and other offshore installations who previously completed T-BOSIET or T-FOET training and must renew their certification to continue travelling offshore.

The T-FOET with EBS programme refreshes and revalidates the offshore emergency response competence of personnel who have previously completed tropical initial offshore safety training (T-BOSIET, T-BOSIET with EBS, or equivalent) and are operating in tropical offshore environments. It covers tropical helicopter safety and escape with EBS integration, firefighting and self-rescue, and emergency first aid in a refresher format.

The programme combines the T-FOET standard and EBS content from OPITO-approved unit standards. It does not duplicate the full Safety Induction module delivered during initial T-BOSIET training.

The objectives of this training are that learners will be able to:

1. Demonstrate, in a simulated environment, that they can use safety equipment and follow procedures in preparing for and during helicopter emergencies — with particular focus on escaping from a helicopter following ditching using Emergency Breathing System (EBS) equipment in a tropical environment.
2. Demonstrate that they can use basic firefighting equipment effectively, and use self-rescue techniques in low-visibility and completely obscured visibility situations.
3. Demonstrate that they can perform basic first aid.

Further Helicopter Safety and Escape with Emergency Breathing System (EBS) — Tropical

This unit refreshes learners’ helicopter travel and emergency response competence for tropical environments where a rebreather Emergency Breathing System (EBS) is issued, and extends the standard T-FOET helicopter escape exercise sequence with full EBS integration. Theory reviews all standard helicopter emergency procedures together with the principles and duration of EBS, flotation dynamics associated with EBS, and correct donning and operation procedures. Practical exercises are conducted using a Survival Systems METS™ (Modular Egress Training Simulator) Model 40 in our HUET facility, supervised by OPITO-qualified HUET safety divers.

The full exercise sequence is:

• Donning an aviation transit suit, aviation lifejacket, and EBS equipment, and conducting EBS integrity checks
• Deploying, operating, and breathing from EBS equipment at atmospheric pressure in dry conditions
• Deploying, operating, and breathing from EBS in a pool, experiencing positive and negative pressure from body orientation in water
• Actions in preparing for a helicopter ditching or emergency landing
• Dry evacuation via a nominated emergency exit into an aviation liferaft from a helicopter ditched on water, including EBS deployment and push-out window operation, with initial liferaft actions
• Assisting others on boarding the aviation liferaft and carrying out secondary actions (lookouts, radio beacons, first aid equipment)
• Escaping from a partially submerged helicopter with EBS deployed and operating, without push-out window
• Escaping from a partially submerged helicopter with EBS deployed and operating, with push-out window
• Escaping from a capsized helicopter with EBS deployed prior to capsize and push-out window, inflating a lifejacket, deploying a spray visor, and carrying out in-water procedures — swimming, HELP position, towing, chain, huddle, and circle
• Boarding an aviation liferaft from the water
• Being rescued by one of the recognised methods available offshore
• Mustering, donning a lifejacket, and boarding and strapping in as a TEMPSC passenger

Further Firefighting and Self-Rescue

This unit refreshes learners’ firefighting competence and self-rescue skills for offshore operations, covering theoretical knowledge, practical extinguisher use on live fires, and self-rescue techniques under smoke-obscured conditions.

Theoretical learning reviews the principles of fire behaviour, raising the alarm, correct selection and operation of portable fire extinguishers for Class A and Class B fires, and self-rescue procedures in areas of reduced and completely obscured visibility. Practical exercises include:

• Raising the alarm on the discovery of a fire
• Correct operation of handheld portable fire extinguishers — water or foam, CO₂, and dry chemical — on Class A and Class B fires
• Self-rescue with a smoke hood or partial blindfold from an area of reduced visibility
• Self-rescue with a smoke hood or partial blindfold from an area of completely obscured visibility
• Small group escape with smoke hoods or partial blindfolds from an area of completely obscured visibility, concluding with a muster exercise

Further Emergency First Aid

This unit refreshes learners’ emergency first aid knowledge and practical skills relevant to offshore operations. The delivery focuses on consolidating and enhancing learning from the learner’s previous BOSIET, FOET, T-BOSIET, or T-FOET training.

Theoretical learning reviews first aid arrangements offshore, types of injuries (including bleeding, burns, and chemical contact), prioritising actions in a casualty situation, immediate first aid actions prior to the arrival of medical assistance (including assessing the situation, making the area safe, attending to unconscious casualties, and summoning help), raising the alarm, checking airways and breathing, and placing a casualty in the recovery position.

Practical first aid exercises include:

• Raising the alarm and assessing the situation
• Checking the area is safe
• Industry-recognised first aid practice, including CPR, airway management, and recovery position

• Participants must hold a valid OPITO-approved offshore safety certificate (BOSIET, FOET, T-BOSIET, or T-FOET).
• Participants must hold a valid offshore medical certificate or equivalent medical fitness certification, in accordance with OPITO medical entry requirements.