NSF accredited as GWO certification body for wind-turbine training facilities

NSF International subsidiary NSF Certification, LLC has been accredited as a certification body for the Global Wind Organisation (GWO). The accreditation enables NSF to audit and certify wind-turbine training facilities to GWO’s suite of safety standards.

“Our industry needs access to more standardized safety and technical training, and this means more GWO training providers in North America,” said Brian Walencik, EHS Leader at GE Renewable Energy and Chair of the GWO North America Committee. “To support this business need, certification bodies are there to audit training providers and make sure they deliver according to GWO’s standards and criteria. We are pleased to see companies like NSF Certification, LLC sharing our commitment and look forward to seeing the growth of GWO training in North America.”

According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), wind power is the largest renewable energy source in the U.S., having more than tripled in the last decade. As demand for wind power grows, the need for specialized wind turbine construction and maintenance workers is expected to increase as well. Training and education facilities for wind-turbine technicians that are certified to GWO’s occupational health and safety criteria help to ensure a safe work environment by delivering a  standardized training for those working in the wind turbine industry.

As an accredited certification body, NSF International will conduct regular audits of training facilities to ensure proper maintenance of factors such as equipment, training processes, personnel and training environments.

“Wind turbine construction and maintenance is challenging work, so it is important for technicians to have proper occupational health and safety training to mitigate risks,” said Jenny Oorbeck, General Manager of Sustainability at NSF International. “NSF’s expertise in occupational health and safety as well as sustainability enables us to protect public health and safety while supporting the growth of renewable energy at the same time.”