Happy Holidays! Looking back on 2019

Happy Holidays to everyone we’ve worked with and met through 2019.

2019 has been a hectic year so we thought we’d run through some of the highlights and take a sneak peak at what’s in store for 2020.

Major highlights in 2019 have included.

Opening a new GWO training facility in Kansas City

Mid way through 2019 we brought on a new facility in Kansas City to deliver GWo working at height. This forms part of our coninued expansion of facilities to service customers throughout the major wind centers of the USA.

Passing the 500 technicians trained mark for the first year in the USA

Whilst our parent company Safety Technology has been training technicians since GWO started we have only been operating in the USA for a few short years. This years was our first to pass 500 technicians trained across our facilities in Iowa, Texas, Kansas City and onsite.

Gaining full onsite certification a USA first

We were extremely proud to have been awarded the onsite certification from GWO in the USA this year. We are now the first and only officially accredited training provider in North America to be able to offer onsite GWO training. For STL USA this was an imperative in 2019 and we look to service clients top to bottom and east to west across the country. The sheer size of the USA presents certain logistical challenges for both us and HSE managers and feedback had indicated that an onsite service was in high demand. So far this year our trainers have travelled from the Pacific North west to the East coast and covered virtually every inch of Texas!

Expanding our team with amazing new hires

Ben Dickens has joined the STL USa team to head up the Sales & Marketing operation and oversee the companies growth. Ben’s got a clear remit to make STL USA the number one training provider in North America. Brandon McKelvain joins us as a new GWO trainer based out of Sweetwater, Texas. Brandon has a host of working at height experience and joins our roster of USA and international trainers delivering courses across the country and world.

Attending O&M Safety exhibition in San Diego

Our biggest exhibition of the year took place in San Diego at the AWEA O&M Safety conference. The event brought both US based companies and international businesses together to talk safety, safety innovations and meet collegaues with an interest and remit for technician safety. It was a great opportunity to meet up with our existing customers and build new relationships throughout the industry. We will be attending again in 2020, come and say high.

Looking ahead to 2020

2020 looks set to be the year of offshore, it’s a key area of focus for STL USA. Expect to hear more about developments in offshore training in the first half of the year.

The STL USA team will continue to grow into 2020 as we recruit more trainers to cover the demand for courses across our facilities.

STL prides itself on its ability to form strong strategic partnerships. Expect to see announcements as we work through the supply chain.

Wind will continue to grow fast in the USA. Given the economics now in play the development of wind energy facilities in only set to increase.

 

For more information on STL USA training get in touch here:

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New Year, New Year GWO courses.

New Year GWO courses will be coming along soon. The program starts mid-January in Iowa and Texas.

Next year’s New Year GWO courses start on January 14th in both Iowa and Texas. Both course are GWO Basic Safety Training Refreshers running over three days and starting the week on a Tuesday.

From this point the course schedule take in a full GWO BAsic Safety Training in Texas and then runs through February, March and the rest of the first half of the year with a minimum of 1 full course and 1 refresher per month at each site.

Whether you need to refresh your certificates or take the course for the first time you will study the following modules:

  • Fire Awareness
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height

Courses generally start 8:00am daily at both of our training centers. Each has center has some of the best training facilities in the USA with simulated nacelles, climbing structures and classroom facilities.

The full program is:

 

Sweetwater, Texas:

January 14th to 16th: GWO BST Refresher

January 21st to 24th: GWO BST

January 27-31st GWO BST

February 10th to 14th: GWO BST

February 18th to 20th : GWO BST Refresher

March 9th to 13th: GWO BST

March 16th to 20th: GWO BST

 

Estherville, Iowa:

January 14th to 16th: GWO BST Refresher

February 10th to 14th: GWO BST

February 24th to 28th: GWO BST Refresher

March 9th to 13th: GWO BST

March 23rd to 25th: GWO BST Refresher

 

To book a course and for more information click below.

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GWO First Aid Course

The GWO First Aid course covers the key aspects of first aid in a rescue or injury scenario. The First aid course teaches trainees how to manage a first aid situation and apply first aid in the correct manner.

The GWO First Aid course forms a core component of GWO Basic Safety Training. Alongside Fire Awareness, Manual Handling and Working at Height most technicians choose to take the four core onshore modules in one chunk. The course comprises two days of GWO First Aid, two days of GWO Working at Height and then a half day each for Fire Awareness and Manual Handling.

Alongside the Working at Height First Aid is a vital component of the GWO Basic Safety Training course.

Once completed technicians will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

  • the importance of carrying out first aid in a safe manner in accordance with the legislative requirements of their geographic location and according to ERC and AHA guidelines.
  • to identify and explain normal function, normal signs and symptoms of serious and minor injuries and illness related to the human body.
  • the correct order of management in an emergency in a WTG environment.
  • correct use of lifesaving First Aid using the Primary Survey A–B–C
  • correct use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)
  • correct use of Ordinary First Aid, the Secondary survey
  • correct use of First Aid equipment in a First Aid scenario

Safety Technology USA emphasise the GWO First Aid element as a vital tool for technicians who encounter a rescue, injury or first aid scenario. We don’t underestimate the dangers that technicians face and as with all GWO memeber organisations and training providers safety is the beginning, middle and end of everything we do.

If you’d like to find out more about the GWO First Aid course as part of the wider GWO Basic Safety Training please get in touch via the link at the bottom of this blog.

Whilst most techs take first aid as part of the full course it can also be delivered as a stand alone module over 2 days for new trainees and 1 day for refreshers. STL USA are fully accredited to deliver GWO courses onsite as well as from our facilities in Texas and Iowa.

Get in touch with us now to discuss your requirements and book a course.

 

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GWO Basic Safety training in Iowa and Texas Latest Dates

GWO Basic Safety training in Iowa and Texas last minute availability.

Demand for GWO Basic Safety Training in Iowa and Texas has been unprecedented so we have scheduled two additional courses in December and January.

Texas course availability

Starting Tuesday December 3rd and Tuesday December 10th we have two weeks of GWO Basic Safety Training Refresher courses at our GWO training center Texas covering the four core Basic Safety Training modules.

Starting Monday December 16th 2019 at Texas State Technical College will be a full GWO Basic Safety Training course including all onshore modules. The course will cover;First Aid, Fire Awareness, Manual Handling and Working at Height. Running over 5 days the course will be led by STL USA’s highly experienced instructors.

12/3/19 GWO Basic Safety Training Refresher

12//10/19 GWO Basic Safety Training Refresher

Full course details:

GWO Basic Safety Training Refresher

Duration:

3 days starting December 10th 2019

Modules:

  • Fire Awareness
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height

Training location:

Texas State Technical College, Sweetwater, Texas,

Places available

4 places currently available

GWO Basic Safety Training

Duration:

5 days starting December 16th 2019

Modules:

  • Fire Awareness
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height

Training location:

Texas State Technical College, Sweetwater, Texas,

Places available

4 places currently available

GWO Basic Safety Training Refresher

Duration:

3 days starting January 14th 2020

Modules:

  • Fire Awareness
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height

Training location:

Texas State Technical College, Sweetwater, Texas,

Places available

4 places currently available

GWO Basic Safety Training

Duration:

4 days starting January 21st 2020

Modules:

  • Fire Awareness
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height

Training location:

Texas State Technical College, Sweetwater, Texas,

Places available

6 places currently available

GWO Basic Safety Training

Duration:

5 days starting February 10th 2020

Modules:

  • Fire Awareness
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height

Training location:

Texas State Technical College, Sweetwater, Texas,

Places available

7 places currently available

Iowa course availability

The fourth course coming up will be scheduled in Iowa at Iowa Lakes Community College. Starting on Tuesday January 14th 2020 this will be a full GWO Basic Safety Training refresher course for any technicians that need to renew their accreditations. The course will cover all the onshore modules; First Aid, Fire Awareness, Manual Handling and Working at Height. Running over 3 days.

Full course details

GWO Basic Safety Training Refresher

Duration:

3 days starting January 14th 2020

Modules:

  • Fire Awareness
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height

Training location:

Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, Iowa.

Places available

4 places currently available

GWO Basic Safety Training

Duration:

5 days starting February 10th 2020

Modules:

  • Fire Awareness
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height

Training location:

Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, Iowa.

Places available

6 places currently available

STL USA’s GWO Basic Safety training in Iowa and Texas offers best in class GWO training. STL USA”s trainers are widely considered some of the most competent and experienced operating in the USA. STL USA’s years of global experience delivering GWO training ensures trainees leave every course 100% confident in what they have learnt.

Get in touch with us now to discuss your requirements and book a course.

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Veterans finding fulfilling careers in wind energy.

Safety Technology has a long history of transitioning veterans into the wind industry through training courses.

Safety Technology are proud to have been at the forefront of training veterans for new careers in the wind energy industry. Starting as the first working at height provider to offer ELCAS (UK Ministry of Defence) approved training courses helping ex-service men retrain and transition to the civilian workforce. STL have continued to prioritise veterans onto courses, particularly GWO training.

UK based initiatives provide funding for veterans and we are delighted to announce we are bringing this scheme to Safety Technology USA. Details will be released over the coming months but the basics will mean veterans can apply for assisted places on a GWO training course.

As a dynamic industry, wind energy calls upon talented individuals with a wide range of skills. Veterans bring value and experience to the wind energy industry workforce as the skills learnt serving their country are perfect to transition to the demanding careers in wind. These skills include; a strong work ethic, functioning well as part of a team, existing training using machinery and working at height, being used to the outdoors in all weathers and the ability to not loose focus on their goals and get the job done.

These attributes are perfectly aligned to the demands of life in the field working on wind turbines and in logistical roles.

For more information on GWO courses and transitioning into the wind sector click below.

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GWO Basic Safety Training modules

The GWO Basic Safety Training modules comprise four core modules and Sea Survival aimed at offshore technicians. Find out more about the modules below.

The GWO Basic Safety Training modules comprise; First Aid, Fire Awareness, Manual Handling, Working at Height and Sea Survival. Each module can be taken as a separate training course although most technicians opt to take the core modules as one course with refreshers at two yearly intervals. Collectively designed to provide technicians with a solid safety baseline across a number of scenarios GWO Basic Safety training is rightly considered the industry benchmark and a requirement for all technicians working in wind energy.

The core modules comprise:

GWO Fire Awareness

GWO First Aid

GWO Manual Handling

GWO Working at Height

 

Safety Technology USA run a variety of courses including all the GWO Basic Safety Training modules at locations in Texas, Iowa and onsite at clients wind facilities. In addition we run GWO Working at Height courses at a new center located in Kansa City. Courses run over five days for all the GWO Basic Safety Training modules. With individual modules taking place over a half day, single day or two days for the working at height and first aid elements. Refresher courses are a little shorter but still ensure that technicians are trained in the latest standard.

THE STL USA curse calendar runs Monday to Friday most weeks of the year, with courses starting on Mondays. Technicians train with an instructor at a ratio of 1:6. We are lucky to have access to some of the premier training facilities in the USa. Our Texas and Iowa training centers have a variety of climbing structures and simulated nascelles to ensure that training is conducted in an environment as close to the real thing as possible. We also offer the options for onsite GWO training.  We were keen to develop an onsite option after consultation with our clients. The logistics of moving technicians across country and more importantly taking them out of the field of work for extended periods is an obvious problem. Onsite training allows us to conduct a risk assessment and then perform the training on familiar equipment. This helps keep costs down and ensures that should the technicians be called away they are in the right place to handle any emergencies. We’ve adapted onsite so that a certain amount of flexibility exists in how the modules are delivered in order to cope with last minute attendance issues.

 

If you are interested in finding out more about a GWO Training course get in touch via the link below.

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GWO training USA

GWO training USA by Safety Technology, covering the key standards Basic Safety Training and Basic Technical training.

Safety Technology GWO Training USA is carried out at key locations across the US. Training centers are located in Iowa, Texas and Kansas City. In addition we offer on site training, subject to a site risk assessment so we really can conduct training anywhere.

GWO Training in the USA is quickly becoming the industry standard. Safety Technology have been training in the US for nearly three years on the back of 20 years of global training delivery for technicians in wind energy.

With a head office in the UK and operations across Europe and beyond Safety Technology have a long history of excellence and innovation when it comes to working at height. Our USA GWO training operations have grown rapidly as the North American sector quickly adopts the popular global safety standards as set out by the Global Wind Organisation. The organisation is made up of industry members at all levels. Safety standards are of paramount importance to the sector and the rise in technicians taking the course shows no sign of slowing.

GWO training USA is somewhat of a barometer for an industry that is in the ascendancy. Renewables have recently overtaken coal as a supplier of energy into the countries power grid. Costs have come down for renewable energy and they are now matching more traditional sources. This is a real turning point as money talks.

Demand for renewable energy and wind in particular is being driven by cities and corporates. Some of the biggest companies in the USA are committing their futures to renewable energy as are major cities like Dallas. Setting ambitious targets to be carbon neutral in the coming years.

We see a bright future for renewables in the USA and full GWO trainingUSA courses full of technicians as they flock to this strong jobs market.

 

Find out more about the training courses we offer.

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November GWO training dates, Iowa & Texas.

As ever there are November GWO training dates through the month at centers in Iowa and Texas.

We aim to offer the most comprehensive program of training courses in the USA. Alongside the fixed-date courses at our GWO training center Texas facilities in Abilene, Texas we also offer on-demand GWO Working at Height from our new Kansas city GWO training facility.

If travelling to a center is difficult and you are interested in a more flexible option we can also train on sIte subject to a risk assessment, just get in touch for more details.

Course dates by center:

November GWO training Iowa

GWO training center Iowa

Iowa Lakes is rightly regarded as one of the premier wind energy training centers in the USA. With wide ranging facilities the center plays host to not only GWO training but a variety of qualifications in renewable and wind energy.

GWO Working at Height

November 11th and 12th

GWO First Aid

November 13th and 14th

GWO Fire Awareness

November 15th and 21st

GWO Manual Handling

November 15th and 21st

GWO Working at Height Refresher

November 19th

GWO First Aid Refresher

November 21st

November GWO training Texas

GWO training center Texas

The Sweetwater campus at TSTC sits at the heart of Texas’ booming wind sector. College facilities include a number of climbing structures and simulated turbines.

November

GWO Working at Height

November 18th and 129th

GWO First Aid

November 20th and 21st

GWO Fire Awareness

November 7th, 14th and 22nd

GWO Manual Handling

November 7th, 14th and 22nd

GWO Working at Height Refresher

November 5th and 12th

GWO First Aid Refresher

November 6th and 13th

If you would like to book a November GWO training course follow the link below and we’d be delighted to talk through your requirements.

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Welcome to our new VP Sales & Marketing Ben Dickens

Welcome to our new VP Sales & Marketing Ben Dickens.

 

As STL USA continues to grow and develop as the USA’s premier provider of GWO accredited training courses we welcome our new VP Sales & Marketing to the company. Ben Dickens has a long career history in enterprise sales and marketing. Working for and with some of the largest global companies. Latterly Ben has worked with a number of fast growing scale-up businesses with responsibility for customers and growth.

Ben’s remit at STL is to continue driving our business in the North America. This will include opening new training centers, developing our core business offer and working closely with our customers big and small to ensure they continue to receive best in market training solutions.

“I’m excited to be joining STL USA at a pivotal pint in their growth. Wind energy in the USA is booming, coupled to the fast pace of adoption of GWO standards in all areas of the sector. These factors combined with STL’s market leading offer put us in prime position to be the trainer of choice across the USA. My job is to ensure that happens and that we continue to deliver a service that sets us apart from our competitors.”

Ben Dickens VP Sales & Marketing

 

Ben joins us at a time when we are actively opening new training facilities, have recently launched our onsite offer and are cementing our position in the USA market as the leading provider of GWO training.

 

“We are very pleased that Ben has joined us at this crucial time in STL USA’s growth. He brings a wealth of experience and modern know how to the sales and marketing process however it is his proven ability to build lasting relationships that should see him make a success of this role and in turn successful establish an exciting future for STL USA.”

Bob Dickens, Global Chairman Safety Technology

 

Please contact us for more information, press enquiries, quotes and images.

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New Kansas City GWO training venue

STL USA are pleased to announce the addition of a new Kansas City GWO training venue.

The new Kansas City GWO training center will initially offer GWO Working at Height training.

Technicians taking the GWO Working at Height course will be able to demonstrate:

  • knowledge of hazards and risks associated with working at heights, specific to a WTG
  • understanding of current national legislation regarding working at heights.
  • correct identification of PPE, including identification of European/Global standard markings e.g. harness, hard hat, lanyards, etc.
  • the knowledge and skills to correctly inspect, service, store and don the relevant PPE, e.g. harness, lanyards, fall arresters and work positioning equipment.
  • correct use of the relevant PPE, e.g. harnesses lanyards, fall arresters and work positioning equipment. This includes correct identification of anchor points and correct ladder conduct.
  • correct use of evacuation devices.
  • how to approach rescue situations in WTGs and use rescue equipment efficiently.

We are now taking bookings for the center, follow the link below to find out more.

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