Lethbridge College takes training to new heights
Feb. 8, 2012 – New technologies demand new responses for health and safety – and Lethbridge College is leading the way.
Already an established Canadian educational institution for workers in wind and solar energy industries, Lethbridge College now can offer training for those called upon to rescue and evacuate people who might be injured while working high rescue on a wind turbine or any structure above 10 feet.
Six Lethbridge College Wind Turbine instructors took part in a five-day training session in December with ENSA, which provides safety training within the wind industry throughout North America. The instructors worked with ENSA trainers practicing high angle rescue techniques and training – called Tractel training – and then learned how to teach others the same important safety lessons.
“We learned new techniques and methods to enhance the training of new and re-certifying wind turbine technicians and others who need this training,” says Ronald Papp, who instructs the Wind Turbine Technician Training Program. “Tractel training and certification is the preferred method for several wind turbine companies. We also learned more about injured-person evacuation from confined spaces and extraction from the wind turbines.”
All six participants will now be able to train southern Alberta firefighters, wind turbine workers, and anyone else who may be called upon to rescue an injured person at dangerous heights.
The instructors were trained on Tractel equipment which allows for safe descent from 80 metre wind turbines. Tractel is a Canadian company that provides material handling and lifting, load measurement, suspended working platforms and fall arrest safety equipment in over 120 countries through a network of over 8,000 industrial distributors. Tractel has become an industry standard for quality, reliability and safety.
Papp adds that his group spent nearly one day learning teaching techniques and also got to try out different kinds of equipment. The six instructors will be able to integrate new techniques and equipment into college wind turbine courses.
Before they even signed up for the training, Papp says that the college has received multiple inquiries from industry into training for high angle rescue and high voltage awareness.
For more information, please contact:
Program Chair - Wind Turbine Technician
403-320-3202 ext. 5345
Administrative Assistant
Industrial and Technical Training/International Wind Energy Academy
403-320-3319