Maintain your site compliance and reinforce proactive ergonomic habits with our certified GWO Manual Handling Refresher (MHR) Module. Delivered at South West Maritime Academy under the revised GWO BST V20 Standard, this dedicated half-day course refreshes experienced wind technicians on essential lifting principles, behavioural safety, and dynamic risk mitigation across wind turbine generator (WTG) environments.
Structured into practical and realistic workplace scenarios, this standalone refresher ensures delegates can apply the TILE principle, control tool vibration risks, and manage awkward postures and team lifting in confined spaces. Revalidate your globally recognised GWO certification for a further 24 months across onshore and offshore wind energy operations.
GWO MHR Course Details
Booking Info
Cromhall Quarry, Cromhall, South Gloucestershire, GL12 8AA.
Need full safety revalidation across all modules?
View Full BST Refresher PackageRefine Your Ergonomic Practice: GWO Manual Handling Refresher
In demanding wind turbine environments, physical tasks such as component positioning, bolt tensioning, and moving parts through narrow hatches require sustained ergonomic discipline. The GWO Basic Safety Training Refresher Manual Handling Module is designed to refresh and enhance your existing knowledge, challenging negative habits and reinforcing safe handling practices.
Under the revised GWO BST V20 Standard, refresher training is delivered in two structured stages: targeted Skill Stations to review warm-up habits, TILE assessments, and tool handling; followed by interactive Workplace Scenarios replicating routine maintenance, team lifting, and mobilization tasks.
1. Warm-Up Culture & Behavioural Safety
Review the physiology of injury prevention and embed a daily site culture of warm-up preparation before physical work.
- Site Warm-Up: Leading and engaging in structured warm-up routines for major muscle groups, wrists, ankles, and spine.
- Behavioural Factors: Discussing peer pressure, time pressure, negative habits, and taking personal responsibility for long-term health.
2. Skill Station: TILE Assessment
Re-evaluate the four core elements of dynamic manual handling risk assessment in confined turbine spaces.
- Dynamic Assessment: Evaluating the Task, Individual capability, Load dimensions, and Environment before any manual lift.
- Aggravating Factors: Identifying reaching distances, twisting, poor grip, and unstable loads to select safer alternatives.
3. Skill Station: Posture & Tool Ergonomics
Practise practical techniques for working over shoulder height, kneeling tasks, and tool vibration control.
- Awkward Positions: Applying handling aids, knee pads, and task rotation when working kneeling or over shoulder height.
- Vibration Management: Mitigating Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) using anti-vibration gloves and rest breaks.
4. Scenario: Turbine Maintenance Tasks
Solve ergonomic challenges during simulated mechanical and electrical servicing tasks in restricted nacelle areas.
- Tool Maintenance: Overcoming combined ergonomic challenges of heavy hand tools, awkward working angles, and over-shoulder reaches.
- Risk Elimination: Identifying opportunities to substitute manual effort with slings, technical aids, or reconfigured work positions.
5. Scenario: Coordinated Team Lifting
Plan and execute safe multi-person lifting of bulky, heavy, or shifting turbine loads.
- Team Communication: Designating a lift leader, coordinating commands, and maintaining balance across uneven surfaces.
- Unwieldy Loads: Safely lifting and maneuvering loads up to 30kg with moving contents or difficult grip points.
6. Scenario: Equipment Mobilisation
Practise moving equipment and tools from storage areas to turbine transition pieces safely.
- Route Planning: Navigating stairs, hatches, thresholds, and Walk-to-Work gangway transfers safely.
- Mechanical Transport: Implementing transport aids, trolleys, and lifting bags to eliminate manual carrying over distance.
The SWMA Advantage: Interactive Workplace Ergonomics
At South West Maritime Academy, our Manual Handling Refresher is focused on real wind industry practice. Rather than sitting through dry presentations, our instructors engage in active discussions, peer coaching, and hands-on scenarios helping you identify and correct poor lifting habits before they cause long-term harm. We ensure your refresher is efficient, highly relevant to your daily work, and uploaded directly to your WINDA profile.
Entry Requirements
This GWO Manual Handling Refresher course is designed for experienced wind technicians, engineers, and site personnel who require revalidation of their manual handling qualification.
The course involves practical lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and scenario exercises. Full attendance and active participation across all Skill Stations and Scenarios are required to achieve revalidation.
- Prerequisites: Delegates must hold a valid, in-date WINDA record for GWO Manual Handling (Initial or Refresher).
- Minimum Age: Candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
- Physical Health: Delegates must be in good health and capable of practical manual handling exercises. A medical self-screening declaration is completed prior to training.
- WINDA Registration: Delegates must provide a valid WINDA ID prior to course commencement.
Contact & Accommodation
Corporate & Group Enquiries
Telephone: 01454 260130
Email: info@southwestmaritimeacademy.com
Monday – Friday: 08.30 – 17.00
Local Accommodation
There is a wide range of local accommodation, some of which are within walking distance of our training centre at Cromhall Quarry, to suit every budget.
