The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has prompted an increase in the number of students seeking spill response and safety training, according to one company.

Online OSHA Safety Training, which offers general oil and gas industry training, said it is currently seeing "incredible" interest in its specialist safety courses.

The company claimed that opportunities within the industry will be rife in the coming months as the cleanup from the BP spill continues.

Online OSHA Safety Training offers internet-based courses that allow students to quickly become certified and sign up as a paid employee of the BP cleanup effort.

Co-founder of the company Bobby Malhotra said: "Our main objective is safety and we have built a very effective as well as extremely fast method for training an individual within the OSHA accepted Hazwoper 24 and 40 Hour Safety Training course[s] that will be accepted locally and state."

He added that this oil and gas training would equip volunteers with all the necessary skills to help contribute to the massive cleanup effort to come over the next few months.

According to the latest update by BP, the cleanup has already cost the firm around $350 million in spill response, containment and relief well drilling, as well as commitments to the Gulf Coast States, settlements and federal costs.

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