Comprehensive preparatory training and instruction are vital for the success and safety of Antarctic field campaigns and operations. It is mandatory that everyone working in the Antarctic, whether on land or on polar ships, satisfy BAS requirements on medical fitness and training.
Job Specific Training Courses
After you have completed Cambridge based Pre-Deployment Training you will be required to attend job specific training courses that will be dictated by your line manager according with your experience. The HR L&D Team will be your point of contact for these courses.
The job specific courses that you will be attending are tailored according to the working environment in the Antarctic. As such we choose our course providers carefully and you could be required to attend courses located all over the country in order to complete your personal training plan.
Pre-Deployment Training Courses
In addition to job specific training courses people who are going South for more than one month, with no previous or recent Antarctic fieldwork experience (or who have Antarctic working experience with other operators), will be required to attend an Antarctic Pre-Deployment Training Course. Those whose projects are entirely ship-based will receive a ‘briefing pack’ and are not required to attend an Antarctic Pre-Deployment Training course.
There are different elements to the Antarctic Pre-Deployment Training Courses, and different attendance requirements for delegates, according to their circumstances. BAS issues invitations to all named participants, 4–6 weeks before the events are scheduled to commence. Your invite will specify which training course we would like you to attend.
For dates and more information, please refer to the following pages:
Preparing to go south
A guide to going south with British Antarctic Survey provides an essential guide to going south with BAS.
Aims of the Training Course
The aims of training course are to provide those going to the Antarctic with both practical advice and information regarding their trip, and more general background on the British Antarctic Survey and its work. Training provides a wide-ranging induction to BAS policies and culture, as well as an ideal opportunity for new recruits to meet with others with whom they will be living and working.
First Aid training
First Aid training is compulsory for people visiting stations and working in the deep field. For those onboard ships, it is desired but not essential. First Aid training will be provided for BAS staff, members of the Antarctic Employment Pool (AEP) and those going into the Deep Field, immediately after the Pre-Deployment Training courses. There will be a full First Aid course, which lasts for 3 days, and two refresher First Aid courses, which each last 1 day in duration. Training is delivered in a 3 year cycle as follows: Year 1 – 3 day First Aid, Year 2 – 1 day refresher First Aid, Year 3 – 1 day refresher First Aid, Year 4 – 3 day First Aid. The BAS Medical Unit (BASMU) deliver this training, which has been designed to meet the needs of BAS with particular reference to medical resources in the Antarctic. First Aid Training is required every season and any BAS staff (including AEP) who have not completed the 3 day 1st Aid training delivered by BASMU within the last 3 years will be required to complete it at the next Pre-Deployment Training.
External collaborators are responsible for booking and funding their own First Aid Training course.
The following table provides a guide to BAS First Aid training requirements, although decisions on individual cases will be made by BAS.
| Ship (Cruise) Based | Rothera & KEP Based | BI, Halley, Signy and Field Based | |||
| BAS Staff | BASMU First Aid (Year as appropriate) | BASMU First Aid (Year as appropriate) | BASMU First Aid (Year as appropriate) | ||
| Visitors & Non-BAS staff | First Aid at Work is required | First Aid at Work is required | BASMU First Aid (Year as appropriate) | ||
| Visitors exempt from standard training (DVs/Media) | First Aid at Work is recommended | First Aid at Work is recommended | BASMU First Aid (Year as appropriate) | ||
| Contractors | First Aid at Work is required | First Aid at Work is required | BASMU First Aid (Year as appropriate) |
Winter Teams Training (WTT)
Those who will be wintering at BAS stations must also attend the Winter Teams Training Course. This is held in Derbyshire, and provides instruction and practical training in Antarctic camp craft, along with glacier travel techniques and crevasse rescue under simulated conditions. This foundation course will be reinforced with further training in the Antarctic.
The Field Training Course also provides instruction and practical training in sub-Antarctic camp-craft, navigation and rescue techniques under simulated conditions, on the Derbyshire gritstone crags.
Personal Survival Techniques Training
All BAS personnel and visitors engaged on a research cruise or who are transiting by ship to/from research stations will be required to hold a valid STCW 2010 (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping) Personal Survival Techniques (PST) certificate. This is the internationally agreed standard of personal survival training required for seafarers. All new Antarctic Employment Pool staff travelling on BAS vessels will be enrolled on a course.
External collaborators are responsible for booking and funding their own PST course.
Your PST certificate must now be NO MORE THAN 5 YEARS OLD for it to be valid. Refresher courses are not valid.
The training is available at most UK maritime colleges and courses must be arranged individually by the Principal Investigator. A list of available course centres can be obtained from Human Resources. Training fees will not be the responsibility of BAS and should be costed into a full proposal.
On joining the ship, personnel will be required to produce their certificate to the ship’s Master, who holds all marine certificates in case of an inspection. Without this certificate, personnel will not be permitted to join the ship.
Continuing training and drills are part of the ethos of the STCW 95 provisions. All personnel will be expected to comply with on-board briefings and drills.
More information on PST Training can be found here: pdf
Details of course providers can be viewed on the below link:
(Note BAS Antarctic Employment Pool (AEP) staff PST training (only) is arranged by Polar Operations Support Team, as part of induction.)