Frequently Asked Questions

WINDA (Wind Industry Database) is a global certification system managed by the Global Wind Organisation (GWO). It allows workers to register their GWO training certifications, enabling employers to verify their qualifications for safety and compliance in the wind industry.

A GWO certification is the official validation an individual receives after successfully completing a training course that meets the specific safety or technical standards set by the Global Wind Organisation (GWO). It's a crucial credential for anyone working, or planning to work, in the wind energy sector.

Here’s a breakdown of what it signifies:

1. Proof of Standardised Training: It confirms you have been trained and assessed according to internationally agreed-upon standards. This ensures a consistent level of safety awareness and competence across the global wind workforce.  
2. Demonstrated Skills: Each GWO certificate relates to a specific training module. For example, the widely required GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) standard includes modules covering essential skills like Working at Height, First Aid, Manual Handling, Fire Awareness, and Sea Survival (for offshore roles). Holding the relevant GWO certification demonstrates you possess the necessary knowledge and practical skills for that area.  
3. Industry Recognition: GWO certification is recognised and often mandated by wind turbine manufacturers, site owners, operators, and contractors worldwide. It signals to employers that you have met the industry benchmark for safety training.  
4. Verifiable Record via WINDA: Upon successful completion of a GWO-standard course through any accredited training provider, your achievement is registered in the GWO's central database, WINDA (Wind Industry Training Records Database), using your unique WINDA ID. This creates a verifiable, digital record of your qualifications accessible to you and potential employers globally.  

How Skylar Education Fits In:

Training providers must be officially accredited by GWO to deliver these courses and issue certifications. Skylar Education, located here in Melbourne (with other locations available), is an example of a GWO-accredited provider offering a range of these essential courses. They deliver training like the GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) Initial and GWO Combined Advanced Rescue Training (ART) Initial, ensuring participants meet the required standards.

You can see all the GWO courses currently available through Skylar Education here: Skylar Education GWO Courses Overview.

In summary, a GWO certification is the globally recognised evidence of your competence in specific wind industry safety or technical standards, obtained by completing accredited training. This certification, verifiable via WINDA, is key for demonstrating your qualifications for working safely in the sector.  

For more details on specific course content or schedules available locally, you can explore resources on the Skylar Education GWO course pages. For broader information on GWO standards or to find other accredited providers globally, consulting the official Global Wind Organisation database is recommended.

When people ask about the "5 GWO courses," they usually mean the five modules within the GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) standard. This is the essential safety training needed to work in the wind industry. The modules are: Working at Height, First Aid, Manual Handling, Fire Awareness, and Sea Survival (Sea Survival is specifically for offshore work). It's important to know that GWO actually offers many other training standards beyond these basic five. Skylar Education provides the accredited GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) Initial covering these core safety requirements.

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Further Details:

GWO BST Module Descriptions:

• Working at Height (WAH): Covers risks, legislation, safe use of personal protective equipment (harnesses, fall arrest systems), and basic rescue procedures specific to working high up in wind turbines.
• First Aid (FA): Teaches how to administer safe and effective first aid for injuries or illnesses that might occur in a wind turbine environment, following international guidelines.
• Manual Handling (MH): Focuses on teaching correct body posture and handling techniques to prevent strains and injuries when lifting or moving equipment within turbine spaces.
• Fire Awareness (FAW): Covers how fires start, prevention methods, how to react safely if a fire occurs, evacuation procedures, and the correct use of basic firefighting equipment found in turbines.
• Sea Survival (SS): Provides the necessary skills and knowledge for safely transferring between boats and offshore structures, understanding survival techniques at sea, and using specific offshore safety equipment.

Important Clarification: Onshore vs. Offshore

• The Sea Survival (SS) module is specifically required only for personnel working offshore.
• The other four modules – Working at Height (WAH), First Aid (FA), Manual Handling (MH), and Fire Awareness (FAW) – are the core requirements for working onshore, and are also prerequisites for offshore work (along with Sea Survival).

Beyond Basic Safety Training (BST):

While BST covers foundational safety, the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) sets standards for numerous other specialised training courses crucial for the industry. These include, but are not limited to:

• Basic Technical Training (BTT)
• Advanced Rescue Training (ART)
• Enhanced First Aid (EFA)
• Blade Repair (BR)
• Slinger Signaller (SS)
• Control of Hazardous Energies (CoHE)
• Service Lift Training (SLT)

Skylar Education's GWO Training:

Skylar Education is a fully accredited GWO training provider based in Melbourne and offering training in other locations.

• We deliver the comprehensive GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) Initial course package, covering the essential safety modules required by the industry.
• We also provide other GWO standard courses, such as GWO Advanced Rescue Training (ART).

You can explore all GWO courses currently offered by Skylar Education on our website: Skylar Education GWO Courses Overview.