Course duration: 0,5 day

The GWO Manual Handling training is intended for anyone who will be involved in the construction, operation, and maintenance of wind turbines in their work – both onshore and offshore. The working environment on a turbine involves extremely limited space, the need to climb ladders, and the manual handling of heavy tools (e.g., hydraulic wrenches) at great heights.

Requirements:

• valid identity document (ID card/passport/mObywatel)

• possession of an active WINDA (Wind Industry Database) ID

• work clothing, work gloves, safety footwear

The course price includes:

• WINDA system registration fee

• coffee / tea

• insurance

• free parking

Additional fees:

• none

Certificate validity:

• 2 years

Accreditations: Global Wind Organisation (GWO)

Course program

The program focuses on building biomechanical awareness and safely performing tasks:

• Hazard awareness – understanding spinal anatomy and the most common causes of musculoskeletal disorders occurring in the wind energy sector.

• Planning a lifting task – practical application of risk assessment before every lift.

• Principles of safe lifting – body mechanics, using leg muscle strength, and maintaining the natural curvatures of the spine when lifting and putting down objects.

• Working in a specific environment – safe pushing and pulling techniques. Solving logistical and transport problems in very confined spaces inside the turbine tower.

• Teamwork – principles of effective communication and coordination of movements when carrying non-standard items in pairs or in a larger group.

What will you learn?

By participating in this module, you will acquire practical habits that allow you to:

• Correctly and calmly assess the situation – whether a given load can be safely moved manually, or whether it strictly requires the use of lifting aids (e.g., winches).

• Apply ergonomic lifting techniques that maximally protect joints and intervertebral discs from overloading.

• Safely operate bulky and heavy service tools in hard-to-reach areas of the turbine, minimizing the risk of dropping the equipment or sustaining an injury.

• Effectively communicate and assist co-workers during difficult team lifting tasks.

What does the training look like?

This training is largely physical, focusing on immediate posture correction:

• Theory and discussions: a short introduction raising awareness of the scale of spinal injuries in the industry and the mechanisms of how these injuries occur.

• Exercises in work clothing: the main stage of the course consists of physically lifting and carrying loads of various shapes and centers of gravity. Instructors continuously verify the participants’ posture and modify bad movement habits developed over the years.

Confirmation of course completion

Passing the module is based on continuous assessment conducted by a GWO instructor, who observes engagement and the correctness of the lifting techniques applied. Upon successful completion, the graduate receives an official certificate of completion for the GWO Manual Handling training. This serves as international confirmation that the participant has been properly trained for safe physical work. The qualifications are instantly registered in the global WINDA database, which allows for proving them to employers worldwide. These qualifications remain valid for 2 years (after which a short refresher course is required – GWO MH Refresher).

Where does the training take place, and is there parking?

Attendance confirmation takes place in Gdynia at 13A Polska Street. Free parking is located at 6 Chrzanowskiego Street. The barrier code is provided by the secretariat staff upon confirmation of the course.

The training takes place in Gdynia at 13 Wiśniewskiego Street – where there is also free parking.