IOSTC has combined
the power of interactive technology and years of experience in
environmental education and training to develop state-of-art cost
effective E-Learning training solutions for oil spill response and
management. In addition to our training applications, we work with our
clients to define their training needs and develop appropriate training
courses including classroom, interactive, and field training. IOSTC also
develops training management systems to facilitate and enhance
environmental management and by so doing improve both efficiency and
safety.
A library of specialized courses on spill
management and operations. The library contains lecture-type material
that is used by trainers for individual training courses.
The program has been designed to
provide a first level introduction training course that covers
eight topics:
Properties of Oil
Behaviour of Oil
Oil Spill Management
Response Strategies
Response Techniques
Spill Response Equipment
Surveillance and Monitoring
Safety
These topics follow the basic material that is
covered by the IMO Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Training Course. The
training course can be used in place of or to supplement classroom activities
and also as an introduction or refresher to other oil spill response training
activities.
The “Basics of Oil Spill Response”
is an introductory course and leads into the next level of detail which is
covered by a series of similar individual interactive courses. This program, called “OIL SPILL
RESPONSE OPERATIONS”, has training modules that include the following topics:
Oil Fate, Effects, and Behaviour;
The Recognition and Description of Oil at Sea,
on Rivers and on Shorelines;
Oil Spill Response Organization and Spill
Management;
Oil Spill Contingency Planning;
Spill Response Operations At Sea;
Oiled Shoreline Response Operations;
Inland and River Spill Response Operations;
Waste Management;
Wildlife Management;
Health and Safety.
The OIL SPILL RESPONSE OPERATIONS training comes in
two versions - Introduction, takes approximately 7 hours to complete, and
comprehensive program that takes approximately 40 hours to complete.
The
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW of Oil
Spill Response training provides an insight for senior managers into critical
issues involving liability and responsibility, This one-hour training course
also provides a brief introduction to oil spill management techniques and
appropriate interaction with international agencies, government agencies, and
the media. Covered, for example, are offshore operations, onshore operations,
marine oil spills, or river oil spills.
This training module describes oil spills on land
and inland
rivers and lakes. Oil may
spread on the surface of
the land or penetrate into the soil contaminating
ground water and water tables. The pathways and
fates of oil for these situations
are outlined in words and pictures to
assist responders in understanding approaches
to response. Methods of
containing the spread of oil, removing oil from the environment and
treating the oil on site are presented. Oil spilled into rivers can
travel long distances and create widespread recreational, commercial and
environmental damage unless quickly controlled. Fish, property and
parklands may be affected. Methods of tackling spills on rivers are
described and illustrated. The module will include information and
scenes from recent river spills to provide a case-study perspective. The
module also will include cold climate perspectives. Oil trapped under
ice floats against the underside of the ice and collects in pockets.
These pockets can move with ice and water movement. Methods are
presented to remove oil and make use of the ice to capture the oil and
prevent movement.
This training module provides an
overview of controlled "in-situ"
burning as one of several techniques for the elimination of spilled oil
at sea.
The primary objective
of this training application is to provide a thorough review of the tools and
techniques for conducting safe and efficient burning operations in offshore,
nearshore and inshore environments. A brief summary of prior experiences
during experimental and actual burns is provided. This summary is
followed by an assessment of the physical, chemical and environmental issues
that most influence the feasibility of burning spilled oil under a variety of
conditions.
An in-depth review of representative burn scenarios
is then directed toward blowouts, tanker accidents, pipeline failures, fuel
transfer mishaps, and a number of other situations that could involve the
deliberate or accidental ignition of oil on water. (click here to
view Mr. Alan Allen introduction)
This training application is
designed to provide a basic understanding of the environmental and
operational conditions under which the chemical dispersal of spilled oil
would likely be safe, efficient and of minimal environmental concern.
The physical and chemical properties of commonly used dispersants are
addressed within the framework of likely spill scenarios where treated
oil could mix effectively and disperse rapidly within the upper 5 to 10
meters of the water column. Representative government regulations and
approval criteria are examined in light of current improvements in
dispersants, their application, and monitoring programs. (click here to
view Mr. Alan Allen introduction)
The
objective of this course is to provide field managers with a means to
train field workers on how to select,
use and maintain oil spill clean-up equipment. Particular emphasis is
put on how to deal with chronic spills.
The first part of the course
concentrates on booms - operating principles, classification and
application. The second part of the course concentrates on skimmers,
reviewing the various types and their applications. The third part of
the course addresses auxiliary response equipment, from pumps to vessels
to land vehicles.
This training module also provides an
in-site system for the training of volunteers who may wish to assist in
response operations during moderate to large oil spills.
This
course provides a basic grounding on coastal and river processes,
shoreline and riverbank character, and the fate and behavior of
spilled and stranded oil. Participants are presented with a
standardized methodology for the documentation and description of
oiled shorelines. The lectures address specific points or issues as
they relate to a range of coastal and river environments. Oil spill
response and protection/cleanup operations are discussed in the
context of the response decision process and the development of
practical operational plans and strategies.
The
course is designed to introduce participants to the issues that are
likely to arise in association with shoreline protection and
shoreline and riverbank treatment following a spill. Upon completion
of the course the participants will know:
1. the general character of various shoreline and riverbank
types and the processes that act on those shorelines and riverbanks;
2. how to evaluate the fate and behavior of stranded oil;
3. how to document and describe oiled shorelines and
riverbanks;
4. what factors are important to define nearshore and shoreline
response priorities and objectives;
5. operational constraints that may be experienced; and
6. which response techniques are practical and effective for
the different shoreline and riverbank types and coastal
environments.
An oil spill contingency plan (OSCP) is
no longer a simple document with
instructions on what to do if an oil spill occurs. An OSCP now is a
representation of the corporate responsibility of a company and the
respect
it shows for its neighboring community. Companies increasingly are
required by
law to take responsibility for the products they use and distribute.
This perspective provides
the base upon which this module is built.
The mandatory contents of an OSCP are presented with an explanation of
the need of these components. Since an OSCP must be supported from the
highest echelon in a company, a policy statement must be up front and
there must be a clear statement of the purpose and scope of the plan.
The module then explains the components and issues involved in
pre-emergency planning. These include community and legislative issues.
This is followed by outlining the traditional and still necessary
measures that must be taken during emergency response. The module
emphasizes that in order for a plan to be and to remain effective, it
must be supported by an active and sustained training program punctuated
with practice drills and exercises. The importance of scheduled plan
evaluation and updating completes the module.
The Incident Command System (ICS) is
widely adopted by lead agencies in the United States and Canada and by
most major industries as the most effective way of organizing emergency
operations during an oil spill response. The objective of this module is
to acquaint and instruct all levels of a response team with a consistent
command system based on ICS. Each component of a response operation
(operations, planning, logistics, and finance) is placed in a context that
defines its role and how its role relates to the operation and success
of the other components.
The module emphasizes that personnel at all levels within an
organization understand how they fit into the command system so as to
avoid misunderstanding and unwitting criticism of other component
operations. Volunteers also should be instructed in ICS so as to better
understand the why and how of responses in progress.
This module is an introduction to the major international maritime conventions, namely the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The fascinating history of the development of these conventions
is outlined as a means of providing perspective on present international maritime laws. The sections which have particular application to oil spills, marine pollution from ships and the protection, reduction and control of marine environment are highlighted and examined. Terms used in the conventions are defined and explained.
The second part of the module summarizes selected conventions of the CMI (Comite Maritime International, or Brussels
Conventions), the IMO (International Maritime Organization) and the United Nations (UNCITRAL and UNCTAD). Those that are particularly pertinent to oil spill management are identified.
The objective of this module is to provide participants with
a background that will enable them to appreciate the complexity of
the subject and to selectively explore the enormous amount of
literature available.
The
objective of this course is to provide field managers with a means to
train field workers on how to select,
use and maintain oil spill clean-up equipment. Particular emphasis is
put on how to deal with chronic spills.
An oil spill contingency plan (OSCP) is
no longer a simple document with
instructions on what to do if an oil spill occurs. An OSCP now is a
representation of the corporate responsibility of a company and the
respect
it shows for its neighboring community. Companies increasingly are
required by
law to take responsibility for the products they use and distribute.
This perspective provides
the base upon which this module is built.
