IASST meetingAlexandria, Egypt 2009 (1430)

Pekka Eskelinen

Development of safety features for survival training

simulators

IASST meetingCeronav, Constanta, Romania September 17-21 2010

AkelaPekka Eskelinen

What safety measures currently used, what is

planned and what measures could be taken into account

when training and when considering safety of

underwater escape training

HUET LIFTING APPARATUSBack‐up power, very important, especially in

countries where power failure is common.

Best to have immediate back‐up to avoid any delays

Different ways to achieve back‐up lifting

MWH back‐up power (UPS) to lift simulator in case of general power failure

In MWH the fastest way in practice is to help the trainees out, by the trainer inside the simulator

UPS system provides immediate power

Turns on automatically

Battery technology improved in recent years, expected life time up to four years

HUET LIFTING APPARATUScrane double wire

double brake

required reliable lifting speed and what the crane manufacturer can deliver.

crane double motor, in addition to the above (in case motor failure)

safety line or back‐up wire (in case lifting wire breaks)

HUET ASSESORIESCameras for monitoring and recording

in the pool and inside the simulator; if something happens possible to analyse situation later.

The pool underwater camera useful for the crane operator, in case of emergency situation.

CAMERA INSIDE SIMULATOR

HUET ASSESORIESEmergency lighting for doors & windows

useful for the instructor and the trainees to see where the emergency opening are under water

normally helicopters that operate over water have (HEELS ‑ Helicopter Emergency Egress Lighting System) HEELS as standard

A typical installation of HEELS consists of an array of LED lamps within a sealed silicone tube placed around the escape hatches or doors

Underwater Escape Training

training in the dark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INxuBaytFVs

HUET ASSESORIESEBS; used only if required to be used by trainees in

real life.

EBS very important for trainees to learn how to use properly (to avoid breathing in water when e.g upside down and need to empty mouth from water)

EBS, problematic, small bottles can be risky to use, fo fill reliably, find and locate in emergency, may fall out (of mouth), limited volume of air, may push trainees to hold breath and lung rupture

EBS no possibility to blow out water and danger of sucking in water into lungs

HUET ASSESORIES

panic buttons

quick release doors & frames (Doors useful when you must help a trainee out fast)

TRAINER SKILLStrainer skills; need to be very comfortable in

water, and to leave as last person from simulator, calm nature, good communication skills

trainee assessment, possibilities to identify potential dangers and panic attacks when under water

water awereness; need to gradually introduce the trainees into the underwater escape training environment, using e.g. shallow water escapte trainer (SWET)

TRAINER SKILLSgood introduction to survival skills prior to the

training in water and inside simulator

safety diver skills (needs to know what happens inside to be able to predict problems before they occur)

radio and/or other communication between instructor inside the simulator, safety diver and crane operator

Raising water awarenesswith SWET

OTHERmedical equipment and skills at the training

pool, e.g.First aid equipmentDefibrillatorOXY‐Box for oxygen treatmentPersonnel trained to use equipment

OTHERThe instructors, divers and staff skilled in first

aid

Risk assessment lifting out of pool, ambulance routes, transport, local hospital, decompression chamber

Always complete technical check‐up and trial runs to check all equipment before training

Listen to the opinion of safety divers during exercises in the dark/low visibility, ability to get immediate illumination on the surface

Regardless of the availability of the safety equipment and skill levels, most important is to

train properlyfollow instructions keep the instructions simple

Thank You!Thank you!

Merci!

Images from training

Video of training

Underwater Escape Training

cabin camera inside MWH-6

Underwater Escape Training

MWH testing and training

Underwater Escape Training

recording inside MWH-6