Safety Technology USA, the First North American GWO Training Provider to Launch BTT Bolt Tightening

Safety Technology USA (STLUSA), headquarterd in Abilene, TX, has been delivering GWO training in the United States for over 10 years and was one of the first certified Global Wind Organization (GWO) training providers in the region. Part of the Cresto Group, a global working at height safety organization, STL USA has its roots in the United Kingdom where their parent company was responsible for the early development of training courses for wind technicians before GWO existed. “Many of the original training courses developed by Safety Technology evolved into the standards we see today through our work with Renewable UK and GWO,” says Ben Dickens, the Vice President of North America.  “We came to the US to deliver solely GWO and wind technician training, so it’s been the focus of our business in this region from day 1.”

STL USA are now the first North American GWO training provider to offer the BTT Bolt Tightening standard as a training course. This will sit alongside the existing BTT modules available including; Electrical, Hydraulic, Installation and Mechanical. 

BTT Bolt will be offered as a standard course (from mid-July) within the traditional BTT package which currently includes electrical, hydraulic and mechanical, now with the addition of Bolt Tightening. Those students taking the installation path will also be able to add Bolt Tightening to the Installation, Mechanical package which is more suited to those technicians involved in pre-assembly and installation roles.

As part of the process of rolling out the course STL USA worked closely with GWO Training Project Manager Christopher Furlan. This was a great opportunity to work alongside GWO at the development stage of the standard taking elements form the standard and applying them in a teaching situation to feedback any limitations and suggestions particularly around terminology for use in our market the USA. 

These insights enabled the STL USA team to develop a full curriculum and deliver a number of test courses to the standard, feedback to GWO and ultimately push through the audit stage to launch. The live BTT Bolt Tightening course is now available at STL USA’s main facility in Abilene, TX.

“The work conducted with STL USA, during the development of the new Bolt Tightening module, is an example of how GWO and training providers collaborate to develop training products that meet industry and market needs. The new Bolt Tightening module is a significant update from training previously offered in the BTT Mechanical and addresses the increasing complexity, safety and quality demands of bolt tightening in the wind industry today. In addition to tensioning, torquing and mechanical handling aids, the new module places emphasis on the planning, documentation and reviewing of bolt tightening tasks. This aligns the new Bolt Tightening module with the job performance requirements and prepares participants for further company-specific training.” 

• Christopher Furlan, Training Project Manager

“BTT Bolt has taken some of the bolting elements from the old BTT mechanical standard and supercharged them alongside some additional areas vital for technicians. It’s a great course and rounds out the BTT nicely”. 

-Brandon McKelvain Training Manager

“Working closely with GWO in the development stages of the standard was great. It enabled us to develop a great course and provide GWO with practical feedback before launch.”

-Ben Dickens VP North America

STL USA | www.safetytechnologyusa.com

GWO | www.globalwindsafety.org