Advanced first aid course for the wind energy sector

Global training provider, Maersk Training, has launched an Advanced First Aid course, which they say is specifically tailored to meet the needs of those working in the wind energy sector.

Together with offshore wind turbine manufacturer MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, Maersk Training say that the course comes in response to growing industry demand. Maersk explain that due to the increasing distance from shore to turbine and the prolonged time for medical professionals to reach a casualty in an emergency, a greater emphasis is being placed on arrangements for emergency medical treatment. The same challenges apply to working on onshore wind turbines in remote locations, such as the Scottish Highlands, they say so the course is also applicable to personnel working there.

According to Maersk Training, the three day Advanced First Aid course builds on the skills acquired at the basic first aid level and enables rapid intervention in the event of severe or life threatening trauma or illness by equipping technicians with the skills required to quickly stabilise a casualty. It also allows personnel to effectively monitor the casualty until specialist medical treatment arrives or they can be safely moved to appropriate medical facilities, they add.

Maersk say the course content covers an extensive range of practical skills including: advanced airway management techniques, control of catastrophic bleeding, CPR protocols including the use of AED’s and administration of gasses in medical emergencies including oxygen and Entonox.

The Advanced First Aid course has been developed in parallel with a specially designed Wind Turbine Emergency Trauma Pack, the company says, which contains all of the lifesaving equipment used during the course. The trauma pack has been designed to be lifted using the “T-piece” davit, nacelle crane or an internal hoisting system and will ensure that technicians in the field have ready access to the emergency medical equipment they have used during training, they add.

Wayne Mulhall, Service Director at MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, explains why the company chose to offer the Advanced First Aid course: “As part of an ongoing focus on rapid and lifesaving response to potential accidents offshore, all MHI Vestas service technicians will undergo an Advanced First Aid training programme, developed by Maersk Training. This programme will provide our service technicians with training to treat a greater range of potential injuries which may occur offshore.

“Advanced first aid skills are critical to personnel working in offshore wind, many sites are over 20 km from land and transit times mean medical assistance can take longer to arrive than working onshore. Therefore it is critical that our service technicians are able to administer a higher level of first aid treatment as soon as possible after a potential injury.”

The Advanced First Aid course is being rolled out during October 2015 with MHI Vestas for its UK workforce say Maersk, including employees from director level through to technician level staff. They add that the course is now open to personnel from all companies within the wind energy sector.