Stress levels associated with huet - Opito

Stress due to exits
OPITO
• Would like to see an outline sequence of the HUET exercises in the joining
instructions – "to overcome fears of the unknown".
• Too much time waiting at poolside. (N.B. Groups of 4 taken through all HUET exercises
before next group started, thus, long wait for last group after initial in-water training).
• "Bit colder water, more realistic window design".
• "HUET in colder water, darkness or spray, waves".
• "Use cylinders with EBS".
• "More military type training – it's been diffused to fit recruitment in current
industry". (N.B. Delegate had previous experience of real threatening situations in Chieftain
tanks).
• "More exercises in the HUET. Should come second nature".
• "If anything, more realistic".
• "Would have liked briefing at start of course about what each component would
entail".
• "Window seats should only be manned by people who have done HUET with door
removal".
• Suggestion to block an exit so that delegate must escape through a different exit.
The most common suggestion was found to be a desire for more time in the water and
smaller groups. Only one individual was looking for a shorter course and that related to
the current requirement for a 2-day add-on to the BOSIET course for those working in the
rest of Europe. Several called for training to be more realistic.
Very similar responses were gained from the small group who undertook the OLF Further
training course, including 7 HUET exercises and the removal of windows. One individual
commented that windows had been added to the course since his last training and that it
was "good to get confidence in a controlled environment". One of the four delegates
considered that the number of exercises should be reduced.
5.2 TRAINING STAFF
Seven members of training staff at three training organisations completed the
questionnaire (Appendix 1).
When asked whether they considered that HUET training in the BOSIET and FOET
courses should be made more realistic by requiring the operation and removal of
emergency exits, 100% answered in the affirmative.
When asked how often delegates failed to complete underwater escape due to difficulties
operating an exit, 29% considered that failures were 'never observed', 57% that failures
were 'very infrequent' and 14% that failures were 'infrequent'. Where problems were
occasionally experienced, delegates were given additional opportunities to complete the
exercise.
Training staff were asked to list factors that they considered most likely to cause stress in
some delegates. A range of factors were offered:
• Rumours and hearsay;
• Problems with EBS training;
• Operation/removal of windows;
• Fear of water;
• Inability to swim;
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