What the work actually
looks like
A wind turbine technician climbs a hundred metres of steel, works inside a machine the size of a bus, and keeps it turning. Built for newcomers, students and technical schools — everything here is interactive, so tap anything to find out what it is.
Tap a numbered point
Safety helmet
EN 397 / EN 12492
A vented climbing-style helmet with a chin strap — not a building-site hard hat. The strap is the whole point: a helmet that falls off at 90 m becomes a dropped object.
Check before every use
- Shell cracks, dents or deep scratches
- Chin strap and buckle hold under a firm pull
- Replace after any impact, even if it looks fine
- Check the moulded date — shells age
Safety glasses
EN 166
Impact-rated eye protection, worn under the helmet. Grinding dust on a blade, brake dust in the nacelle and hydraulic mist all arrive at eye level.
Check before every use
- Lenses free of deep scratches that blur vision
- Side protection intact
- Anti-fog coating still working
- Keep a clear pair for inside the nacelle
Hi-vis jacket
EN ISO 20471 class 3
High-visibility outer layer with retro-reflective bands on body, arms and shoulders. On a grey platform under a grey sky, this is what makes you visible to a crane operator or a vessel.
Check before every use
- Reflective tape not cracked, peeling or painted over
- No oil-soaked patches — contaminated fabric burns
- Correct class for the site (class 3 offshore)
- Cuffs and front closed near rotating machinery
Full-body fall-arrest harness
EN 361
Everything clips to this. A full-body harness spreads arrest forces across thighs, chest and shoulders instead of your waist, and holds you upright afterwards.
Check before every use
- Webbing: cuts, fraying, burns, chemical staining
- Stitching intact at every load-bearing point
- Buckles and D-rings undeformed, free of corrosion
- In-date inspection tag — typically 6 or 12 months
Twin shock-absorbing lanyard
EN 355
Two coiled legs with large scaffold hooks, so one stays attached while the other moves past an obstacle — you are never unclipped. The shock pack tears progressively to keep arrest force below 6 kN.
Check before every use
- Shock pack unopened — a deployed pack is scrap
- No cuts, glazing or heat damage on the webbing
- Hook gates close and lock by themselves
- Length matched to the fall clearance below you
Front and side D-rings
EN 361 / EN 358
Attachment points, each with a job. The sternal and dorsal rings are for fall arrest; the side rings are for work positioning only and must never be used to arrest a fall.
Check before every use
- Rings sit flat and rotate freely
- No deformation or sharp edges
- Know which ring is for which task
- Side rings used only with a positioning lanyard
Work gloves
EN 388
Cut and abrasion protection with a grip rating that matters as much as the cut level. Bolted joints, wire rope and blade edges all take skin off.
Check before every use
- Palms not worn through
- No oil-hardened, stiffened areas
- Correct cut level for the task
- A second dry pair — wet gloves lose grip
Safety boots
EN ISO 20345 S3
Toe cap, midsole penetration plate and ankle support. Ladders are climbed on the arch of the foot, so a rigid sole is what stops your feet aching by the third tower of the day.
Check before every use
- Sole tread not polished smooth
- Ankle support still firm
- No exposed toe cap
- Sound laces — a lace failing on a ladder is a real risk
Standards are listed so you can look them up. They do not replace GWO training or your employer's equipment instructions — a harness is inspected by a competent person, and nothing here overrides that.
Thinking about starting?
Everyone doing this job began with a GWO Basic Safety Training course and a first site. Find a training centre, then keep every certificate in one place from day one.