There appears to be a significant gap between the basic standard of survival training for UK offshore wind power when compared with the oil&gas industry – one day versus three.
Although early windfarms have tended to be close inshore and in shallow waters, this will not be the case with UK Round Three projects, which include two of the largest power stations ever planned anywhere in the world.
The North Sea offshore environment is basically no different for offshore wind than it is for oil&gas. Moreover, both industries involve the installation and maintenance of millions of tonnes of metal and machinery.
The fundamental difference is that one is focused on the extraction and transportation of hydrocarbons, the other generates and transports electricity. Both are dangerous. And yet the RenewableUK (ex BWEA) course lasts just one day, versus the oil&gas industry’s convention of three days.
The standard literature for the RenewableUK course says: “This course is designed to provide all persons working on wind turbines offshore with a basic knowledge of safety and emergency-response procedures.”
Regarding course structure, it says: “Delegates will gain a level of understanding and awareness of the hazards encountered when working on a wind turbine offshore.
“Included within the course is vessel abandonment, sea survival and first-aid, all of which are tailored specifically for the wind turbine industry.
“The course is a mix of both theoretical and practical sessions. During the training, the delegates will be required to demonstrate their level of knowledge and understanding of the training programme content.”
The syllabus focuses on:
First-aid equipment.
Helicopter winching techniques (demonstration and practical).
Life-saving appliances.
Location aids and rescue.
Principles of first-aid.
Safety induction.
Safe transfer of personnel by vessel.
Unconscious casualties.
Vessel abandonment.
Wet drill (practical).
Assuming an eight-hour day, that is less than one hour per topic, and revalidation is every three years.
The oil&gas course is also designed to provide delegates with a basic knowledge of safety and emergency-response procedures for working in the UK sector of the North Sea.
The course structure says: “Delegates will gain a basic level of understanding and awareness of the hazards encountered when working on offshore installations, and of the safety regime and safety management systems in place to control and mitigate those hazards.
“The course is a mix of theoretical and practical sessions during which delegates will be required to demonstrate their level of knowledge and understanding of the training programme content.”
The syllabus focuses on:
Safety induction.
Emergency breathing systems (EBS).
Firefighting and self-rescue.
Helicopter safety and escape.
Sea survival.
Survival first-aid.
Revalidation is every four years and, by comparison, all aspects of the course are delivered in significantly greater depth than the renewables are.
One key difference in course content is that the RenewableUK course lacks aviation-related training. This is despite the fact that the Greater Gabbart windfarm involves the use of helicopter-based intervention.
This service is provided by Bond Helicopters, which is a major provider to the oil&gas industry.
Stakeholders in Greater Gabbart are Scottish & Southern Energy with RWE. SSE is a major player in offshore wind. However, it has also bought a sizeable package of North Sea gas assets and infrastructure off Hess in a deal worth $423million.
This brings the power company directly to the oil&gas table. Moreover, it means that SSE is operating to two different sets of personnel safety standards on the same stage – the North Sea.
Other companies, such as RWE, are in a similar position. RWE, for example, is operator of the large Breagh gas project, development of which is about to get under way.
Breagh shares the same space as a growing list of wind projects – the Southern North Sea.
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