• The specialist in safety training for more than 25 years
  • Rated 4.5/5 stars on average!
  • NRTO accredited
DELTA Safety Training

UPDATE: New prerequisite in standard GWO Sea Survival is removed!

UPDATE: New prerequisite in standard GWO Sea Survival is removed!

General GWO Wind
April 14, 2023

On January 25, 2023, we published the article below (in italics) because the GWO had introduced a new standard regarding the GWO Sea Survival. After a short trial period, the GWO has decided not to adopt this new prerequisite as of now. So the new requirement that was included in this standard will be dropped! This means that as of today (April 14, 2023) no GWO Working at Height certificate is required to participate in GWO Sea Survival. The rest of the new standard remains unchanged.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An update to the Sea Survival Module within the GWO Basic Safety Standard was recently published. A new entry requirement has been added to participate in GWO Sea Survival training and two changes have been made to the practical sea survival exercises. Are you curious what changes are in the update? Read it in the article below! 

What changes have been made?

Two important major changes have been made in the update to the GWO Sea Survival standard. First, a new entry requirement has been added that must be met in order to participate in the GWO Sea Survival module. You must have a valid GWO Working at Height certificate. Both delegates and instructors are required to have this in order to be allowed to participate in the training. 

In addition, two major practical training components have been adapted. During the first exercise, you will learn to enter the water in a controlled manner with proper personal protective equipment. Furthermore, you will be assessed for your mastery of both personal and group swimming techniques and your ability to safely enter the life raft. The element of entering the water from height is now no longer part of the exercise. To increase the reliability of the training, dangers are simulated in a realistic situation. Therefore, during the second exercise, students are prepared to safely perform an evacuation on the water by a double compartment while inflating a life jacket. 

Why?

Updates to the standards are always done with the goal of enhancing the learning experience as well as the safety of the trainees. A valid GWO Working at Height certificate is required because during the GWO Sea Survival module you must already possess the skill to safely perform a descent during a high altitude evacuation. This leaves enough time to focus the GWO Sea Survival module on, for example, manually inflating life jackets in open water or, for example, releasing the so-called Self-Retractable Lifeline (SRL) in water.  

As of when?

The changes were implemented in October 2022, but will not take effect until April 1, 2023. This means that if you start GWO Sea Survival training after April 1, 2023, you must have a valid GWO Working at Height certificate. Without this certificate participation will not be possible.  

Would you like to know more about the GWO Sea Survival update? Then check out the Global Wind Organization's article!