BOSIET (with CA-EBS), HUET (with CA-EBS) and FOET (with CA-EBS) (OPITO)

A.3 Physical and stressful demands of the BOSIET (with CA-EBS)

Training activities contained within this Standard may include physically demanding and potentially stressful elements. All personnel who participate in such activities must be capable of participating fully.

Therefore, OPITO-approved training centres are required, as a minimum, to ensure that prior to participating in practical exercises the delegate:

a) Possesses a valid, current offshore medical certificate, OR

b) Possesses an employing company approved medical certificate equivalent to an offshore medical certificate, OR

c) Undergoes medical screening by completing an appropriate medical screening form provided by the OPITO-approved Centre (a list of medical conditions which must be included in a medical screening form is available from OPITO)

Additional Medical Requirements specific to Element 2.5 – Additional CA-EBS Training (In-Water)

Note 1: Requirements within items d) and e) below denoted with an asterix (*) are UK requirements only. Non-UK Training Centres must ensure (and be able to demonstrate) that any specific National and/or State medical requirements relating to delegates participating in in-water CA-EBS training are fully complied with and are supported by suitable and sufficient risk assessments.

OPITO-approved training centres are required to ensure that prior to participating in in-water CAEBS practical exercises the delegate:

d) Possesses a valid, unexpired Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) offshore medical certificate confirming the delegate’s fitness for offshore work* OR possesses a valid, unexpired offshore medical certificate issued by a body outside of the UK which is recognised as equivalent to the OGUK medical certificate of fitness for offshore work*, OR possesses a valid, unexpired, medical certificate of fitness to work at sea*, AND

e) Possesses a certificate of fitness to undertake shallow water CA-EBS training issued by a registered OGUK examining doctor*, OR, where the medical fitness certificate for work at sea includes a restriction or is subject to conditions, possesses a statement from an appropriate registered practitioner that the restriction or condition does not result from a respiratory or ENT condition and there is no absolute contraindication to the shallow water delegate’s participation in the training*, AND

f) On the date on which the delegate is to undertake shallow water CA-EBS training, and prior to entering the water in which the training takes place, the delegate gives to the OPITO approved Centre a statement, that to the best of the delegate’s knowledge and belief, the delegate has no (current or past) medical condition which makes the delegate unfit to participate in the training.

Delegates must not participate in practical exercises contained in Element 2.5 if they are unable to meet the requirements of d, e) and f) above.

Note 2: Please note that delegates who possess a valid and current certificate of medical fitness provided by an Approved Medical Examiner of Diving (AMED) will not be required to undertake d) and e) above as they have already met the requirements of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997.

The medical Examiunation (NOGEPA)

The medical examination will always include the following:

• Check of photographic ID of the examinee;
• A comprehensive medical, psychosocial and occupational history;
• Audiometry;
• Urine analysis;
• Visual acuity;
• BMI;
• Appropriate clinical examination;
• Spirometry (required in connection with participation CA-EBS “in-water” training; see also section 4.6.3);
• Further investigations (e.g. blood tests, ECG) may be required to clarify clinical findings but are not a routine requirement.

Note: for health monitoring purposes it is recommended to perform an ECG at the first Offshore Medical.

A lung-function examination must be conducted for every offshore examination whereby a minimum of a FEV1, FVC and FEV1 / FVC ratio and flow-volume curve is performed. The case history must also be well discussed to check for the presence of (old) lung problems such as: pneumothorax, asthma, COPD, medication etc., and this data must be well recorded in the medical files. Participation in a CA-EBS “in-water” training is only possible if the participant has undergone the lung-function examination prior to the training, and it has been established that there is no increased health risk in following the training. This must be indicated in the PSL (Personal Safety Logbook) from 01-01-2017 (separately) with Fit for CA-EBS “in-water” training. If an employee is medically unfit for participation in the CA-EBS “wet” training but is otherwise medically fit for working offshore, this must be indicated in the PSL (e.g. by filling: Fit for offshore, but unfit for CA-EBS “in-water” training). This allows them to participate in a CA-EBS “dry” training and they can thereby meet the requirements for the trainings-criteria for offshore work.