Arco gains GWO accreditation to train workers in onshore wind industry
By Simon Bristow
Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, has received accreditation from the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) to deliver its suite of safety training qualifications.
The GWO sets the international standard for training qualifications for those working in the wind turbine industry, and the accreditation will see Arco train people in the onshore wind turbine industry.
The sector is expected to continue to expand over the coming years, with the number of onshore wind turbines set to double by 2030.
Onshore wind generated about 24 per cent of the UK’s electricity in 2020, and 73 per cent of all renewable electricity output in Scotland, which is championing the industry.
The UK currently hosts an estimated 8,600 onshore wind turbines, with this capacity expected to double by 2030 in order to meet the target of having all of the UK’s energy generated from “clean sources” by 2035.
Approximately 39,000 people in the UK undertook GWO courses in 2019.
As a non-profit body founded by leading wind turbine manufacturers and operators, the GWO sets the international standard for training qualifications required by those working in the wind industries across the UK.
The objective of the GWO is to support common industry training standards for health and safety that have been developed in cooperation between members of GWO and other stakeholders from the wind turbine industry.
Arco Professional Safety Services provides training and accreditation for the GWO BST Onshore course package, which includes the GWO Working at Height, GWO Manual Handling, GWO First Aid, and GWO Fire Awareness modules. After completing the course, the qualifications are valid for two years before workers need to be recertified.
Steve Dawson, manager of Working at Height Training at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “As experts in safety, Arco Professional Safety Services is delighted to have received accreditation from the Global Wind Organisation and to be able to offer customers the full suite of onshore BST qualifications.
“In addition to our GWO BST Onshore training offer, Arco, as the UK’s only integrated services and safety products business, is also able to offer additional products and capabilities which other training providers can’t, such as fall protection equipment, rescue equipment, IRATA training (rope access), workwear, respiratory protection services and musculoskeletal disorder management, making Arco the expert safety partner of choice for those businesses and staff working in the wind industry.”