Changes to GWO certification criteria on the way

A new training programme will launch in 2019 for certification bodies, enhancing their capabilities while making them more accountable for their work.

New GWO sites are growing at well over 10% a year, with 59 opening in the first nine months of 2018. Jakob Lau Holst, CEO of Global Wind Organisation, says auditor training is essential to help maintain governance, consistency and quality.

"We must also acknowledge that GWO training is growing rapidly, increasing the demand for certifying auditors. Underpinning our governance system is the GWO Criteria for Certification Bodies and like all governance systems, it is under constant review.

"Our 2019 auditor training programme is one of the new developments we will implement as part of the latest version of the criteria."

On October 1 2018, GWO published version 5 of its Criteria for Certification Bodies. "We've been listening to training providers' feedback. Our mandate is to provide adequate governance, ensuring consistent quality in delivery of training by all providers. This works well, but the assumption is an auditor knows GWO standards" - Jakob Lau Holst, CEO Global Wind Organisation.

Auditor training programme

Version 5 of the GWO Criteria for Certification Bodies introduced the following requirements:

• An auditor/certification body must document/demonstrate to GWO their attendance at workshops or trainings participated in/witnessed
• This information will be listed on GWO web site
• Auditors can certify on basis of ISO 17065 (service provider) and/or 17021 (management systems)

These requirements will be mandated from 1st April 2019

Why does GWO need more certifying auditors?

1. 59 new GWO sites were certified between January and the end of September 2018.
2. More than 200 other sites in 37 counties require re-certifications every three years
3. In 2019, training providers will increasingly seek extensions to their certificates so they can deliver new training like GWO Enhanced First Aid or Advanced Rescue training.