#PowerUpYourCareer
Offshore environments like oil and gas platforms or wind turbines need fully qualified emergency firefighters on site in the rare event a fire breaks out. After all, you can’t just dial 999 when you are in the middle of nowhere!
Adding an offshore firefighting qualification such as OPITO Offshore Emergency Response Team Member (OERTM) or OPITO Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM) can complement existing skills and help make your CV stand out from the rest.
Atlas Professionals, one of the leading recruitment companies for the global energy sector, confirmed this at our recent virtual careers event.
Senior HSEQ Advisor for the Atlas Group, Mark McDonald, explains:
“There are certain qualifications which are mandatory for anyone starting out in the offshore sector such as an OPITO BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training) and a valid medical certificate, but other certificates can be highly desirable.
“OERTM and HERTM firefighting tickets are a great example. Rare offshore fires, when they do occur, can be ferocious and are often in difficult to access areas such as confined spaces and pipework valves. Legally employers are required to have professionally trained employees to deal with these situations. While offshore firefighting isn’t a full-time offshore role, it can be a distinct advantage to have it as an additional skill on your CV, alongside your existing qualifications.
“This can be particularly important for anyone looking to get their first job in the offshore sector. At the moment for example, we only have a few clients in the North Sea who don’t have Roustabouts in the fire team. Roustabout is an entry level position so any additional skills and certificates you can show an employer will help.”
Success Stories
Eric West from North Shields is a long-standing customer at AIS Survivex in Newcastle, and a great example of how firefighting training can enhance your CV.
After many years working in offshore oil and gas Eric decided to transfer to the fast-growing offshore wind sector.
Eric said: “With no wind experience, I knew I had to do something to make my CV stand out so turned to AIS Survivex for help. I undertook a 5-day OPITO Offshore Emergency Response Team Member (OERTM) training course to add emergency firefighting to my skill set. This definitely helped me secure my first offshore wind job. As the only person on my rotation with emergency response skills, I became an invaluable team member and it also put my name top of the list for any new potential contracts.”
OERTM and HERTM training at AIS Survivex takes place in highly realistic settings featuring helicopter simulators and purpose-built structures to replicate field conditions as closely as possible. Within these facilities students experience the heat and smoke conditions of a real offshore fire and learn how to successfully bring the fire under control.
At the end of each course the difference in people can be astonishing. Even those who are extremely nervous and unsure of what to do in an emergency situation become confident and familiar with the equipment and techniques."
Harry Malins from Aberdeen completed the Atlas Professionals Greenhand Programme along with combined OPITO fire & helideck emergency response >> training to scoop his first offshore Roustabout role.
Harry said: “After working at a desk for years, I was looking to try something different – something more physical, with quality time off. Offshore life fitted the bill. My dad recommended AIS Survivex to get all my mandatory offshore tickets & training and I also did a Banksman Slinger qualification to set my CV apart. I applied all over the place without success but when I signed up to Atlas Professionals’ Greenhand Programme and added fire and helideck qualifications I finally managed to land my first offshore trip as a Roustabout.
“Since then, I’ve had two more offshore trips under my belt and hopefully I’ve secured work for many months to come. Both AIS Survivex and Atlas Professionals couldn’t have been more helpful, and I’d like to thank them both. The instructors at AIS Survivex are spot on and the training facilities are the best in the business.
“I’m really enjoying offshore work and my top tip for anyone else looking to get their first break is just go for it. For me, the fire and helideck tickets definitely helped. They might be expensive, but they are something that employers are looking for, so really helped push my CV to the top of the pile.”
Fire & Emergency Response Training Offers
OPITO Emergency & Helideck Emergency Response training is available as one easy to book package - boost your CV today with our combined OPITO emergency responder programme and you could save over £800 against booking individually!
All available with interest-free 0% finance…
Newcastle: Combined OERTM/HERTM >>
Aberdeen: Combined OERTM/HERTM >>
