The Grade Assessment process requires you to gather evidence that can be used as part of your assessment. It is important the evidence you provide shows a range of activity and is relevant to the competencies you are aiming to have signed off.
Throughout your trips there will be many occasions to gather these pieces of evidence. It is essential to have up to date and relevant evidence to support your Grade Assessment process.
If you are going to include evidence which includes company details, you MUST check that the evidence can be shared outside of your company.
Types of evidence include:
- Observation
This is normally regarded as the best type of evidence. It will typically involve someone watching you carry out a task. Ideally, this would be your Assessor, however a competent witness can do this too. This should be recorded in your competence scheme documentation, like you Assessment Plan - Questioning
Your Assessor/Witness will ask questions orally or written. To determine if you understand the concepts that relate to the task you are being assessed on. - Work Product Evidence
Typically refers to something you have made (eg. A report). It may also include a task that you have completed, such as a repair. The item you have fixed is effectively the product. - Written Evidence
This refers to reports, log sheets, logbook pages, accident & incident reporting and investigating, and daily progress reports – these can be great pieces of evidence as it shows you, the Candidate, and your Assessor on the trip together. This evidence may be scanned and uploaded as part of your portfolio. Assessors may ask you to write a report on some of the activities you have carried out. - Photographs and Videos
Photos and videos can make very good evidence and can easily be uploaded as part of your portfolio. Please note: We will accept voice-overs from ROV Pilots when co-piloting. - Simulation
IMCA have classified simulation in the Offshore Industry. A ‘Class A’ simulation is considered the most realistic type and some of your operational time can be collected in this manner. Simulations are available for ROVs, DP/bridge systems, dive control panels and cranes. Any drill or exercise onboard is also a simulation. Up to 40 hours ROV Piloting can be completed on a Class A simulation and 20 hours on a Class B. - Training
Training does not necessarily confirm competence. A certificate confirming that some form of assessment has taken place during the training can form part of your evidence.
The Rules of Evidence
It is important to ensure your evidence satisfies these rules:
- Rule 1: Recent Completion
Evidence may be over 12 months old particularly for the first assessed activities, but the third assessed activity should be more recent. - Rule 2: Authenticity
Evidence must be completed by yourself and signed by you and your assessor/witness. - Rule 3: Range
It is important to complete the grade competencies over a sufficient range of activities. As a guide, one trip may constitute one activity. Range can also be a range of different tools fitted to an ROV, or a range of different types of dive operation (general visual inspection; drill support; construction; cable or pipe burial, intervention work).
There are further details included in your ‘Introduction to Competence Course’ – you may have already completed this.
If you have any further questions or need some further advice, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our team – enquiries@MTCS.info