OERTL | Offshore Emergency Response Team Leader

What is an Offshore Emergency Response Team Leader (OERTL)?

In the offshore oil and gas industry some personnel are required to be part of an offshore emergency response team (OERT), to be able to assist in the event of an emergency.  One such role within the OERT is that of Offshore Emergency Response Team Leader (OERTL).  The OERTL is expected lead a response when called upon should an emergency situation occur on their offshore installation or vessel. Emergency situations could be classed as a number of events including fire & explosion, gas release or confined space incident.

What training do OERTL's require?

OPITO have set out the minimum training standard that is required for persons who are nominated for the role of OERTL. The OPITO Offshore Emergency Response Team Leader training course is designed to ensure that students are equipped with the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to perform the role of Offshore Emergency Response Team Leader effectively.

Students attending this training and assessment programme will be given a series of explanations and demonstrations which will identify what they are expected to know and do in their role as OERTL. This will be followed by practical exercises which will allow delegates to demonstrate their skills, knowledge and understanding of their emergency response role.

The OERTL training course duration is four days with an approximate training ratio of 20% theory to 80% practical.

What are the pre requisites to attend the OERTL course?

The prerequisites for the OERTL course are either a valid Offshore Emergency Response Team Member Training (OERTM) certificate or a valid Further Offshore Emergency Response Team Member Training (FOERTM) certificate.

Training and/or assessment activities contained within the OERTL course will include physically demanding and potentially stressful elements. All personnel who participate in such activities must be physically and mentally capable of participating fully

Is there an OERTL Refresher?

The OERTL certificate is valid for two years, following this students will be required to re-validate their OERTL certificate by attending the Further Offshore Emergency Response Team Leader (FOERTL) training course.

The FOERTL training course duration is two days with an approximate training ratio of 10% theory to 90% practical. On the FOERTL training course students will refresh skills already obtained on the OERTL course, and be informed of any relevant updates in procedures or legislation within the last two years.  The FOERTL certificate is valid for two years and is refreshed by re-attending the FOERTL training course.