As part of GWO’s continued commitment to high-quality, efficient and industry-aligned training, we have updated eight Training Standards in the wind portfolio, effective from Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

Developed by GWO Working Groups, the updates are designed to ensure best practice and continued relevance for the global energy workforce, while creating different delivery options which provide increased flexibility and customisation of the training portfolio.  

In total, eight new standards will be released with varying degrees of change, ranging from structural changes to technical content revisions. The affected standards include:  

Basic Safety Training - BST

New version: V20

Replaces BST V19 & BST Refresher V19

Advanced Rescue Training – ART

New version: V6

Replaces ART V5 & ART Refresher V5

Enhanced First Aid – EFA

New version: V6

Replaces EFA V5 & EFR Refresher V5

Wind Limited Access – WLA

New version: V3

Replaces WLA V2

Control of Hazardous Energies – CoHE

New version: V5

Replaces CoHE V4 & CoHE Refresher V4

Basic Technical Training – BTT

New version: V11

Replaces BTT V10

Blade Repair – BR

New version: V6

Replaces Blade Repair V5

Instructor Qualification Training – IQT

New version: V2

Replaces IQT V1

GWO Requirements for Certification

New version: V14

Addendum to Requirements for Certification V14

GWO Requirements for Training

New version: V15

Amendment to Requirements for Training V15

To help with any questions you may have, we have prepared the GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0 which provides guidance to Training Providers, Certification Bodies, Auditors and WINDA Record Holders on the practical implications of these changes.

Overview of Updated Standards

Advanced Rescue Training (ART) Standard

Following the ART Review Project, this standard has undergone comprehensive revision. Single Rescuer training is now fully integrated into both initial and refresher ART training modules, removing the need for standalone Single Rescuer modules. Refresher Training has been reduced from three days to two days, with distinct refresher training which includes refreshing Single Rescuer skills.

The standard also aligns rigging and movement methods with current good practice and equipment manufacturer requirements, alongside significant structural and technical clarifications.

Key benefits:

• Updated module structure with clearly defined courses and training durations: 1½-day duration for each initial training (ART-H & ART-N), 1-day duration for each refresher training (ART-HR & ART-NR).

• Embedding Single Rescuer skills within ART-H & ART-N initial and refresher training means simplified course design, less WINDA administration and reduced audit burden.

• Enhanced technical clarity with removal of tensioned line/zip line content and an increased emphasis on cross hauling/manufacturer-compliant rigging practice.  '

For further information about changes to the Advanced Rescue Training (ART) Standard V6, please refer to the GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0, sections 5.1 - 5.6.

Basic Safety Training (BST – Working at Height & Sea Survival, incl. BST-R)

BST has been updated following the Working at Height review and updates to the Walk to Work Gangways and Walkways in the Sea Survival Module, as well as the updated design of Refresher Trainings.

The revised standard removes the combined Working at Height & Manual Handling module and combines the Initial and Refresher sections within a single standard. The Working at Height update also ensures alignment with manufacturer requirements and industry guidelines, while clarifying how and when reinforced ladder rungs may be used. There is also the introduction of the new lesson Sea Survival: Walk-to-Work (W2W) , a lesson on safe transfer using motion-compensated gangways .

In addition, all modules have an updated practical-focused refresher training, which applies a more consistent refresher training structure that simulates workplace scenarios across all modules.

Key benefits:

• Improved quality of refresher training within a reduced time frame

• Working at Height training that more closely reflects on-site reality

• W2W closes a previously identified behavioural and safety training gap related to motion-compensated gangway systems used in offshore Walk-to-Work transfers

For further information about changes to the Basic Safety Training (BST) Standard V20, please refer to the GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0, section 7.1.

Basic Technical Training – Installation (BTTI)

Following the BTT Installation Module review, the Installation Module has been split into two standalone modules:

• BTT Installation Mechanical (BBTI-M)

• BTT Installation Electrical (BBTI-E)

The two modules can either be offered as stand-alone training or as a combined delivery. Combined delivery of BTTI-M and BTTI-E is equivalent to version 10 of the BTTI module. Total duration for combined delivery has been reduced to 16 hours (two full days). Participant prerequisites have been removed for participants attending the stand-alone BTTI-E module.

Key benefits:

• Modules aligned to installation job roles

• Reduced overall duration

For further information about changes to the Basic Technical Training (BTT) Standard V11, please refer to the GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0 sections 3.1 - 3.5.  

Control of Hazardous Energies (CoHE) Training Standard

CoHE initial training and refresher training standards are now merged into a single CoHE standard. The CoHE Basic Safety module content has migrated to the Basic Technical Training Standard with a new name: Hazardous Energies Basic Safety (HEBS).

Key benefits:

• CoHE Electrical Safety and Pressure Fluids Safety have simpler prerequisites and reduced durations while maintaining safety training outcomes

• Hazardous Energies Basic Safety (HEBS) as part of the BTT provides an enduring training record. It eliminates redundant topics overlapping BTT Mechanical, Electrical, and Hydraulic modules to allow reduced duration.

For further information about how these changes affect legacy training records for BaSC or BaSC-R, or your training provider certifications and audits for those modules, please refer to the GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0 sections 4.1 - 4.6.  

Enhanced First Aid (EFA)

There are no content changes to Enhanced First Aid. The refresher training has been merged into the initial standard document for consistency.

Instructor Qualification (IQT) Standard

Based on insights from the IQT Review Project, updates include:

• Description of learning activities removed to allow for flexibility in activity design

• Harmonised assessment criteria for IQT and IQTX participants

• A mandatory teach-back session in IQTX

• All instructor qualification modules are now enduring qualifications.  

Key benefits:

• Standardised participant assessment documentation aligned with the Requirements for Training https://www.globalwindsafety.org/trainingproviders/criteria

• Increased opportunities for continuous learning

For further information about changes to the Instructor Qualification Standard (IQT) V2, please refer to the GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0 section 8.1

Wind Limited Access Training Standard (Onshore Module)

This update incorporates changes from the BST Working at Height updates and the Amendment to Ladder Use in Wind Turbine Generators, effective 30 October 2025, ensuring alignment with manufacturer requirements and industry guidelines.

Key benefit:

• Clarifies how and when reinforced ladder rungs may be used

• Align with BST Working at Height updates

For further information about changes to the Wind Limited Access (WLA) Training Standard V3, please refer to the GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0, section 8.1

Blade Repair

The Blade Repair Standard now includes comprehensive safety training for handling chemical substances (including epoxy and polyester resins) that meets or exceeds relevant pieces of supranational legislation. A new lesson on Chemical Substance Legislation has been introduced.  

Key benefit:

• Enables participants to comply with legislative frameworks in global regions when performing Blade Repair tasks.  

For further information about changes to the Blade Repair Training Standard V6, please refer to the GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0 section, 9.1.

What Happens Next?

The updated standards have now been published, with the accompanying GWO Technical Bulletin V 1.0, which provides guidance for Certification Bodies, Auditors, Training Providers and WINDA record holders on the impacts of these changes.  

We will also be hosting webinars to answer any questions about the practical implications of these changes. The first of these will be held on Thursday, 12 March 2026 and will provide a general overview of all the relevant changes. You can register for this session here.

We will also hold four further webinars in the following weeks – two focusing on changes contained in the BTT and CoHE standards and two focusing on changes contained in the BST and ART standards. In these webinars, impacts on certifications and audits will be explained, as well as any impacts on existing training records.

You can register for these below:

• Deep Dive: BST + ART – Friday, 13 March (AM CEST)‍
• Deep Dive: BST + ART – Monday, 16 March (PM CEST)
• Deep Dive: BTT + CoHE – Tuesday, 17 March (AM CEST)
• Deep Dive: BTT + CoHE – Tuesday, 17 March (PM CEST)

If you would like to submit a question ahead of time for these four webinars, you can do so via this form. Please note, only the Deep Dive sessions will answer these questions – the initial session is intended as a general overview.

We remain committed to ensuring GWO training continues to meet industry needs and uphold high standards of safety, quality and consistency across the global wind workforce.

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