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SPOTLIGHT ON WALES AWE


There is a sight to behold eight miles off the North West coast of Wales, in Liverpool Bay, Europe’s largest construction Gwynt-y-Mor.


Presiding within a site area of 79KM2 and consisting of 160 wind turbines with a capacity of 576 MW – generating enough energy to meet the average annual energy needs of up to 400,000 homes, this leviathan wind farm is on target for completion and to be fully operational by the end of 2014 – no mean achievement and a feat of engineering and an awe- inspiring vista to boot!


It is testament to all those who have been involved from inception to near completion and for the continuing support of this gargantuan landmark.


PIVOTAL AND IMPERATIVE ROLE Every person involved plays a pivotal and imperative role to maintain the highest of standards in every area of the Gwynt-y-mor project, none more so than my next guest and his team – Andy Barker of Hughes Sub Surface Engineering Ltd (HSSE) as Head of the Emergency Response Team, dedicated to ensuring the safety of all personnel working on Gwynt-y-mor.


FEATURE SPONSOR


INSPIRING!


When speaking to Andy it became abundantly obvious that it takes a certain kind of character to undertake these roles, not just a job – it is a vocation. It goes without saying that these people have highly specialised skills and it is imperative that they all work as a team. Not surprisingly the recruitment process is a robust one. Most rescuers hale from a medical, fire rescue service or military background.


Andy Barker UNIQUE CHALLENGES


The very nature of working offshore creates its own unique challenges, especially when rescuing a casualty within a confined space or extricating them from extreme heights – not to mention being at the mercy of the weather!


All these factors have to be taken into consideration… Enter: an extremely elite team of highly trained professionals headed by Andy Barker. I was privileged to find out more about this highly specialised role and the people involved.


COMFORTING THOUGHT


It must be a comforting thought for those working on Gwynt-y-Mor to have the knowledge that 24/7, 365 days a year they have the support of the rescue team literally only minutes away should the need arise – at any one time there is a crew of 3 professionals within the vicinity.


All members of the rescue team undergo rigorous training in medical and in rope access (IRATA – Industry Rope Access Trade Association) affording them the expertise to operate safely in sometimes heart-stopping situations and difficult to access spaces and avoiding dangling in unsavoury situations!


TIME-CRITICAL


Should a situation arise whereupon the team are required – a time critical situation (within maximum of 10 minutes) the team assess, provide medical attention and remove the injured person and repatriate them to the vessel (depending on the severity) and liaise with the marine co-ordination centre by either sea or helicopter to the nearest hospital, ensuring the person has the opportunity of making a full recovery.


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www.windenergynetwork.co.uk


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