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Maritime Safety Training Courses

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What is online training? Our online trainings are great for those who want to learn at their own pace and on their own time. Online trainings can be completed from any location, eliminating the need for expensive seminars. Employers can assign employees specific trainings and keep track of their progress and exam scores. We also offer DIY Kits and Train the Trainer courses. Use the filter above to see these options.

About CAL/OSHA Trainings: These trainings are aligned specifically with CAL/OSHA Requirements. They are only applicable to employees working in California. If you work in California and you don’t see what you’re looking for on this page, check out the OSHA Safety Courses. U.S. trainings without a corresponding California version are aligned with Federal OSHA regulations and do not have any specific CAL/OSHA Requirements.

About CAL/OSHA Trainings: These trainings are aligned specifically with CAL/OSHA Requirements. They are only applicable to employees working in California. If you work in California and you don’t see what you’re looking for on this page, check out the OSHA Safety Courses. U.S. trainings without a corresponding California version are aligned with Federal OSHA regulations and do not have any specific CAL/OSHA Requirements.

What is a DIY training kit? Our training kits offer a full training experience alongside a comprehensive toolset for further learning. These kits are the perfect resource for those who want the freedom of training employees themselves. Unlike traditional trainings that are taken once, the kit offers a complete initial training as well as activities and materials to train employees long after they’ve been certified. We also offer online trainings and Train the Trainer courses. Use the filter above to see these options.

What is Train the Trainer? Train-the-trainer courses allow employers to take full control of the training process. Employees who take these courses are fully certified to use the training kit and train others. This means that employers can hold training seminars and courses without the need for third-party trainers. Employees who complete these courses are certified for life and can train others confidently with a well-tested learning model. We also offer online trainings and DIY training kits. Use the filter above to see these options.

 

WHY CHOOSE

HARD HAT TRAINING?

Finding maritime training near you is not necessary because you can complete it online! We’ve become a trusted provider of what we feel is the best maritime training near me alternative available. Our safety training courses can be done anywhere. We offer online training. We can get you your certification in as little as two hours with our online training. You can also use a more robust, customizable option through our DIY training kits training. No matter which option you want, we can help you get the maritime training you want at a price you can afford.

   
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Flexible Courses

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Training Courses

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Maritime STCW Training Frequently Asked Questions

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How often do I need maritime training?

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OSHA requires maritime training for maritime employees–on that, there is no question. Where confusion exists is how often employees need maritime refresher training or recertification. Outside of the initial safety training class, it is common to see employers set recertification every three years. We are one of them. And here’s why:


As far as this 3-year maritime training certification goes, OSHA regulations are very specific when it comes to forklifts and a couple of other pieces of equipment. However, on everything else they are not so clear. They just state the employer must regularly provide safety training for their employees to maintain proficiency. Following industry best practices, we’ve adopted this 3-year term in order to help employers comply with the general standard of regularly providing maritime training.


Ultimately, it is up to the employer to determine how frequently their maritime employees need to be trained. Many of our customers require it more often, annually even. Others may stretch it out a bit. In working with OSHA, though, it is our experience that they like to see employers adopt the strictest standard when the regulations are not clear. For instance, we know of companies that didn’t train every three years and were reprimanded by OSHA for not offering additional training more often.


It is not uncommon for OSHA to refer to the forklift standard as the pattern by which training should be carried out for other pieces of equipment. On a side note, OSHA is slowly but surely making training requirements specific for other pieces of equipment so there are no gray areas. Maritime for instance is undergoing potential changes to the regulations that will reference training specifically.


So, with that in mind, we say maritime employees must be re-evaluated every three years to determine if they are still competent enough to do their job safely. We also state that this every-three-year maritime evaluation is the maximum time that should be allowed to pass before an employee receives maritime recertification. There are several instances that should require additional maritime training and observation before the three-year period is up:


  • Maritime employee is observed in an accident or a near
  • Maritime employee received a poor evaluation or is observed operating in a dangerous manner
  • The maritime employee is assigned to work a different job or the workplace has changed significantly enough to require additional training.
  • I’ve operated maritime for 30 years. Do I need to take a maritime course/class, a written exam, and a practical exam still? Or can I just take a written maritime operator test?

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    Yes, you need to take a maritime operator safety training course. No matter how long you’ve been on the job, OSHA requires maritime safety training, a written exam, and a practical evaluation. There is no way around it. The extent of the classroom training can be adapted by the instructor according to student needs. The written exam proves mental competency and understanding of the safety principles taught. And the practical evaluation proves the maritime employee not only understands but is capable of operating safely. Many of our customers believe the practical evaluation has the greatest overall value.

    I received maritime safety training at a different job. Do I need to be trained again by my new employer?

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    This is a common question, especially among laborers-for-hire who may sub out from job to job. Technically, it is your current employer who is responsible for saying whether or not you have been trained specifically for the type of maritime work you will be doing. For example, if you bring a maritime fire safety certificate or maritime fire safety license (wallet card) to your new employer, they do not have to accept it. It is their right to require you to take their own training class. This is because if there is an accident, they will likely be responsible and need to prove to OSHA that they trained you on maritime operations.

    Can you explain maritime certification? Who can train, evaluate, and certify operators?

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    This, above all, causes a lot of confusion. Bottom line, OSHA states that employers are responsible to train their employees. Generally speaking, there are three ways they can do this:


  • Train employees in-house with their own program
  • Use another company’s materials or online classes to train employees

  • In terms of using a 3rd party’s safety training materials (like our maritime training kits on CD or our maritime online training classes), OSHA does not recognize one company over another. They simply state that training needs to occur and outline the things a maritime operator should be trained on.


    When we do live training or offer maritime safety training online, people often assume we are the ones certifying the trainees. This is not true for any training company. We are simply assisting the employer by providing live maritime safety training or the training materials needed to help them certify their employees.

    How do I take the maritime practical evaluation if I take maritime safety training online?

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    The online maritime course covers OSHA’s requirements for the classroom portion. Many employers prefer online training because they know exactly what maritime safety training the operator will receive. In live classes, the training sometimes varies. A written exam is included at the end of our online training courses. After the maritime class and exam are finished, you and your safety managers will have immediate access to a practical evaluation checklist. This can be printed off and used by your supervisor to help him or her evaluate you on the maritime. When done, they can sign it and file it with your exam. This will satisfy OSHA’s requirements for maritime certification.

    My trainee scored 80% on the maritime STCW training test/exam. Did he pass or fail his maritime operator safety training course?

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    Contrary to popular belief, OSHA does not dictate what a passing score entails. That is ultimately up to the employer, who is also responsible for certifying (or authorizing) their employee to work in the maritime industry. If an employer chooses to pass their employee at 80% on a maritime safety exam, that’s fine. But what if a question or two among the 20% missed could lead to an accident or death? Is it worth it? Our recommendation is that you always go over any missed questions with your trainees—even if they just missed one. Once they understand the principle missed, have them write their initials by the correct answer. That way, you are protecting them and those around them from potential accidents in the future.

    STCW Certification: The Ultimate Guide

    What is the STCW Basic Safety Training?

    STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping. It is an international regulation that is regarded as the standard of training for anyone working on a commercial vessel. The STCW was formed in 1978 in an attempt to standardize maritime code by introducing a basic set of rules for maritime employees worldwide.

    What Does the STCW Basic Training Include?

    The STCW basic safety training includes five modules in the overall training course. Each one contains a necessary and unique skill set as well as information on the topic as a whole. These five training elements are:

    1. Personal survival techniques: How to survive at sea in the event of an emergency.
    2. Fire prevention and firefighting: How to identify and extinguish different types of fire and practical knowledge of firefighting equipment.
    3. Basic first aid: How to respond to and care for an injured individual.
    4. Personal safety and social responsibility: How to prevent accidents and understand safety procedures.
    5. Proficiency in security awareness: This provides essential training in the event of a security threat such as piracy or armed robbery.

    Throughout the next couple sections, we will go into a little more detail when it comes to the five elements of the STCW.


    Personal Survival Techniques

    This module of the STCW training teaches knowledge of essential prevention and survival techniques, including:

    Here at Hard Hat Training, we offer this module in our Maritime Personal Survival Techniques Online Training Course.


    Basic First Aid

    This part of the course will cover essential knowledge on how to respond to the most common hazards and emergencies on board, including:

    This will also teach you important medical techniques such as CPR, different bandaging methods, how to move a patient, and how to improvise with no equipment available.

    We also offer this module; you can find it here: Maritime First Aid Training Course.


    Personal Safety and Social Responsibility

    This portion of the course is classroom-based and introduces basic training in safety procedures and accident prevention, familiarizing new crew members with working conditions onboard.

    Our Maritime PSSR Training course follows the requirements and standards when it comes to this STCW module.


    Proficiency in Security Awareness

    This section of the training is the newest. It was added specifically for employees who do not have designated security responsibilities but should still be aware of security issues such as:


    Fire Prevention and Basic or Advanced Firefighting

    This portion of the training deals with the necessary precautions needed to minimize the risk of fires aboard the ship. It examines how fires are caused and how to properly put them out. This section should also include practical training for the use of firefighting equipment, including the use of a breathing apparatus in the case of firefighting and rescue.

    Our Maritime Fire Safety Training Course covers all the required learning topics and meets all standard qualifications.

    STCW Advanced Fire vs Basic

    The basic firefighting course is generally taken by students as part of the mandatory STCW basic training. There are no prerequisites for this portion of the course, and the only qualification is that the student is generally in good health.

    The advanced firefighting course is a part of the training required for an employee who is specifically responsible for managing and controlling firefighting operations on board. It is required and generally taken by Deck and Engineering Officers that wish to apply for or renew their certificates of competency. Students who need or want to take this course must have the basic firefighting certificate first.

    The STCW Basic Safety Training & OSHA Requirements

    OSHA has standards and laws for maritime employers regarding shipyard employment, marine terminals, and longshoring. OSHA also requires employers to provide a safe workplace for their employees. However, aside from those standards and requirements, OSHA refers to the qualifications and standards laid out by the STCW.

    The STCW requires seafarers to meet the standards of competence, age, medical fitness, and approved sea-going service.


    Can I Get My STCW Certification Online?

    You can complete some of the required training modules online; however, some of the requirements include hands-on classroom experience. So no, you can not get your STCW certification online.


    The Benefits of STCW Certificates

    STCW basic safety training certification is a mandatory requirement for many crew-related jobs. The STCW certifies that an individual is able to identify safety hazards at sea and know how to respond in an emergency situation. It is designed to provide employees who are just starting out in the maritime industry with the knowledge they will need to be able to assist the vessel, the crew, and the passengers in the event of an emergency.

    Does the STCW Certificate Expire?

    An STCW certification will need to be renewed every five years. However, some employees who have the STCW certification may just need to participate in a refresher course, this is ultimately up to your employer.