GWO Working At Height Refresher

Description

This 1-day refresher module is designed to challenge outdated practices, eliminate negative habits, and update experienced personnel on the latest industry standards and G+ safety guidelines.

Training is delivered across two sequential phases: foundational Skill Stations to demonstrate core individual proficiency, followed by unannounced, complex emergency scenarios.

Key training elements include:

• PFPE Skill Stations: Pre-use inspection, fitting, and adjustment of full-body harnesses, work positioning lanyards, vertical fall arrest sliders, and connectors under generic equipment principles.
• Work Positioning & Anchor Assessment: Selecting approved structural anchor points (including certified reinforced ladder rungs) and using work positioning systems to ensure secure, hands-free operation.
• Vertical Progression & Fall Factors: Applying double-hook climbing techniques and guided fall arrest systems to maintain the lowest possible fall factor (FF < 0.5).
• Dropped Objects & Buddy Checks: Practical tool tethering, managing drop zones, and carrying out mandatory pre-climb buddy checks on equipment and loose items. Emergency
• Descent Scenarios: Safe rigging and deployment of constant-rate descenders for solo and double evacuation drills with appropriate ground clearance.
• Casualty Rescue Drills: Executing single-rescuer retrieval scenarios from vertical ladders using active and passive configurations, along with immediate suspension trauma mitigation.

Certification and Assessment

Certification: Global Wind Organisation (GWO) Working at Height Refresher (WAHR) Certificate.

Validity: Valid globally for 24 months (2 years) from the date of completion.

Assessment: Candidates are assessed continuously throughout practical Skill Stations and Training Scenarios.

Entry Requirements and Target Audience

Target Audience: Experienced wind turbine technicians, site supervisors, mechanical/electrical maintenance engineers, blade operatives, and commissioning personnel whose 2-year height safety certificate is approaching expiry.

Physical Aptitude: Delegates must be in good physical health and capable of practical ladder climbing, descent exercises, and casualty rescue drills. (This course is a competence review and does not assess or overcome a fear of heights).

Prerequisites

Current Certification: Delegates must hold a valid, in-date WINDA training record for GWO Working at Height (Initial or Refresher).

Age: Minimum 18 years of age.

Medical Fitness: Candidates must be medically fit to participate in practical height safety training and complete a medical self-screening declaration prior to the course.

WINDA Registration: Delegates must have a valid WINDA ID registered on the Global Wind Organisation database (winda.globalwindsafety.org) prior to attending to allow for instant certificate upload.

Why Choose South West Maritime Academy?

Purpose-Built Vertical Tower Rigs: Training takes place on dedicated tower and ladder structures at our Cromhall Quarry facility, accurately replicating the internal geometry, rail/wire fall arrest systems, and confined platforms of operational WTGs.

Expert Instruction: Courses are led by experienced instructors with in-depth knowledge of, offshore wind operations and emergency rescue.

Fast WINDA Registration: Completed training records are uploaded directly to the GWO WINDA database upon course completion to ensure no disruption to your site credentials.

Accessible Location & Support: Conveniently located just off Junction 14 of the M5 near Bristol, offering on-site parking, modern classrooms, and proximity to local accommodation.