OPEP Level 1 – On Scene Responder
Learn the responsibilities of an on-scene responder under oil pollution emergency planning arrangements, including spill hazards, response priorities, containment, reporting, and coordination during offshore spill incidents.
Overview
The UK On-Scene Responder Course is suitable for Offshore Installation Managers and company representatives. This course has been accredited by the Nautical Institute on behalf of the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS)*, as meeting the statutory training requirements, stipulated in the Offshore Installation (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations. 2002. The course looks at how and why spills occur, assessing environmental impact, emergency pollution planning and how to respond to a spill correctly including reporting requirements. Included in the course are a range of interactive exercises and real-life scenarios to put theory into practice. A good understanding of your Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (OPEP) is an integral part of this course and time should be spent reading and understanding the plan before taking this course. *Previously the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Delegates receive a maximum of two attempts for this course. If a delegate fails after the second attempt then they will be required to order another licence to resit the course.
Who is it For
This course is suitable for offshore personnel, OIMs, supervisors, and others who may be required to act as or support an on-scene responder during oil spill incidents.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the course, learners will be able to:
- Identify potential hazards that could lead to a spill
- Identify potential locations of a spill
- Assess potential environmental impacts
- Explain the purpose of an oil pollution emergency plan
- Implement response strategy
- Assess the danger to human health
- Identify the properties of the spilled oil
- Report the spill to MRCC
- Report the spill using the PON1
- Quantify spill using measured or calculated data from operational or production losses
- Measure the oiled area
- Allocate appearance coverage
- Apply thickness band for allocated appearance
- Calculate minimum volume
- Calculate maximum volume
- Explain the use of aerial surveillance
- Explain the use of oil modelling
- Describe the concept of tiered response
- Decide on the preferred response option
- Monitor and review the situation
- Explain what dispersants are and when to use them
- Identify the areas where approval from the licensing authority is required
- Describe how to contain and recover oil
- Describe oil sampling and the guidelines available
- Explain the purpose of the shoreline protection plan
- Describe the Emergency Pollution Control regulations
Course Content
The course includes topics such as:
- Oil pollution emergency planning
- Potential spill hazards
- Initial responder duties
- Spill assessment and reporting
- Containment and response strategies
- Communication and coordination
- Health, safety, and environmental priorities
Assessment
Learners are assessed through knowledge checks and assessment questions during the course. The course includes 24 questions.
Certificate
Successful completion of the course will result in a certificate of completion issued by RelyOn.