Who’s the course for?

This training is designed for currently-appointed OPITO-certified HERTLs that are required to revalidate their OPITO HERTL certification by refreshing and updating their knowledge and skills in aspects of their role that they cannot practice in the workplace.

Course aims and benefits:

To refresh elements of HERTL training that cannot be completed in the workplace and updating HERTLs on key changes to helicopter operations, systems, relevant legislation and regulation over the previous 2 years (approx.)

Course content:

• HERTL Further theory training.

• HERTL Further practical training in emergency response.

Learning outcome:

To successfully complete this programme, learners must be able to demonstrate:

• Emergency access and egress to and from helidecks including clear, concise and effective communications with all relevant ER personnel.

• Directing the helideck team in a clear and confident manner during emergencies including the correct selection of appropriate fire-fighting equipment for the incident.

• Directing entry to the incident area in a controlled manner – continually assessing how the changes in the emergency could impact on the safety of the HERT members, maintaining a means of escape from the incident area.

• Effective delegation of emergency response tasks to team members.

• Controlling helicopter incident firefighting operations, to include responding to a helicopter engine fire using a CO2 media extended applicator.

• Ensure correct donning, use and monitoring of breathing apparatus (BA) of HERT members (all learners to practice donning and using BA).

• Effective Search and Rescue (SAR) principles and techniques – on or close to the helideck, locating, extracting and handling missing personnel and casualties following a helicopter incident on the helideck.

• Appropriate response to non-firefighting operations during helicopter incident.

• Ensuring effective use of firefighting fixed, portable and mobile systems, including fixed fire monitors, dry chemical and CO2 fire extinguishment and control media.

• Responding to an NUI helideck fire (with limited firefighting equipment).

• Utilising back-up ER Team via the Team Leader (this only requires briefing the back-up team leader).

• Missing persons and casualty management, to include:

a. Prioritising.

b. Accounting for missing personnel.

c. Casualty handling techniques.

• Hose-running techniques and associated hazards.

• Conducting dynamic risk assessment during the emergency situation and obtaining feedback against the plan.

• Continually monitoring human factors during emergency response including:

a. stress affecting decision making in self and team.

b. physical limitations of self and team.