Lead Forensics

GWO Standards Update

The main changes are:

  • Working at Height Initial and Refresher modules with combined Manual Handling are no longer available; all participants will be required to attend separate Manual Handling modules
  • New BST Refresher modules have been developed for Manual Handling, Fire Awareness and Sea Survival, to complement the existing refresher modules in First Aid and Working at Height
  • Participants with existing valid WINDA records for a particular module will have the choice of attending, subject to availability, either a refresher or initial module to obtain a new WINDA upload for that module
  • There is no change to the duration of the existing BST refresher modules in Working at Height and First Aid
  • There is a marginal reduction in training time (approximately 30 minutes) for the new BST refresher modules in Manual Handling and Fire Awareness
  • The new BST refresher module in Sea Survival will have a reduced duration of 4 ½ hours
  • The Advanced Rescue Training Single Rescuer modules have been withdrawn; single rescuer training has been integrated into the other two ART modules with their 2 year validity
  • It will no longer be possible to refresh ART with combined Working at Heights and Manual Handling Modules; these will all need to  taken as separate modules.

HOTA is working to timetable and offer these modules in as seamless a way as possible.

For existing bookings for combined GWO modules and those received before close of business on Friday 21st August 2026, HOTA will offer free BST Manual Handling places, subject to these been taken consecutively with the offer booked modules.