Global Wind Organisation figures point to an urgent need for investment in standardized safety and technical training. The industry-owned non-profit predicts more than 25,000 people will need entry-level training to work on offshore wind turbines over the next five years.
“Many training providers have already responded to demand by certifying to GWO standards, but investment must pre-empt development and be ready to deliver as soon as foundations begin to be placed in our waters,” said Dan Ortega, GWO North America representative.
The training is essential for jobs in construction, installation, operations, and maintenance segments of the wind-power value chain and does not cover jobs in procurement, manufacturing (the most labor-intensive segment), or transport.
A pipeline of almost 100 community colleges, maritime academies, and universities from across North America are seeking certification to provide the wind-industry-recognized GWO standards.
“Together, these institutions will help deliver safety on the job, reduce duplication in training, and improve the productivity of tens of thousands of people working on wind turbines offshore in the U.S.,” Ortega said.
“Manufacturers and owner operators have created GWO standards to work safely according to the known risks and hazards they face every day,” said Wesley Witt, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy head of quality management and HSE in SG’s Americas region.
GWO is a non-profit group of wind-turbine owners and wind-turbine manufacturers committed to the creation and adoption of standardized safety training and emergency procedures.
More info www.globalwindsafety.org
