NWFTC Tailors New SHEQ Review and Training Service

UK-based National Wind Farm Training Centers (NWFTC), part of CWind Limited, has developed a new SHEQ (safety, health, environment, and quality assurance) review and training service for its clients in the offshore wind industry.

Following the recently completed pilot program to assist in the improvement of working at height, transfer and rescue procedures for an operational offshore wind farm off UK’s East coast, NWFTC decided to offer the newly developed service to other wind farm owners and operators.

Jemma Eaton, Commercial Director CWind, said: “We feel this program could be of immense benefit to some of our other clients. An external review and comparison to best practice often helps to reveal procedural flaws or patterns of inaccurate application. In our unforgiving work environment this is something none of us can or want to accept. NWFTC’s new service enables O&M teams to continue their important work while assured in the knowledge that their safety is being looked after. If there is room for improvement, we will find and close it out, helping more offshore wind farms to achieve the latest standards in operational safety.”

NWFTC started the pilot program after the wind farm owner had identified some room for improvement in their existing work at height and transfer procedures and requested that NWFTC review, develop, test and assist in the implementation of new procedures. NWFTC was also tasked with the development of advanced rescue courses in line with the new procedures.

As part of the service NWFTC, analysed current procedures and site specific settings on- and offshore to ensure transfer of personnel and work at height procedures were as accurate and realistic as possible. To ensure existing expertise was maximised NWFTC worked closely with the client’s windfarm staff in reviewing and drafting the material.

NWFTC tested the new procedures offshore, identifying and implementing any changes required- before finalising and documenting best practice. The wind energy training company also finalised risk and method statements. The new procedures were approved by the client and were implemented across the site with immediate effect. NWFTC created a video library during the initial testing and roll-out. Some of the videos are now used in the client’s induction processes and have been identified as a positive addition to their onboarding. They also act as training aids on courses.

“The implementation of the new procedures, equipment and training, along with their existing First Person On Scene (FPOS) medics and robust emergency management protocol, has lifted safety and rescue standards at this offshore windfarm to arguably one of the safest and most prepared wind farms in the UK and indeed Europe. We are very pleased NWFTC has made such an instrumental contribution and the feedback received has been very positive throughout,” Tom O’Shea, Training Manager NWFTC, said.