RWE holds emergency response challenge at East Coast College

RWE teams from around the UK, Denmark and Germany came to Lowestoft to test their skills and equipment over a number of emergency response scenarios and health and safety background activities.

The RESQ+ Challenge also had a beneficial impact on students attending the Energy Skills Centre at East Coast College.

More than 90 students had a chance to observe real-life scenarios, while 22 members of staff enhanced their own knowledge of various industry activities.

“The idea for the RESQ+ Challenge originated when my colleague Nick de Sancha and I observed a notable variation in skillsets and equipment related to first aid and rescue across our offshore fleet,” said Shaun Cutler, platform specialist for RWE Renewables.

“Initially, we proposed equipping our travelling technicians with a medical bag and some rescue gear when attending different sites to cover those lacking in advanced first aid provisions. However, we soon realised this was part of a larger challenge.

“Instead of focusing on fault and pointing fingers, we wanted to create a platform that empowers sites to self-assess and identify areas for improvement, promoting ownership of growth and consistency across the board in these areas.”

Over two days, participants tackled six different scenarios, covering a wide range of first aid and rescue skills.

Scenarios included everything from catastrophic bleeds and cardiac arrests to restricted access situations and a road traffic accident.

Participants tackled a wide range of first aid and rescue scenarios (Image: RWE) The rescues took place in environments such as the environmental tank at East Coast College, simulating North Sea conditions, and RWE’s rescue containers, equipped with a state-of-the-art mist simulator to disorientate rescuers.

A number of awards were handed out at the end of the two-day event, recognising standout participants:

• Lifesaver Award – presented to Nathan Jones of Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm for demonstrating exceptional skill and composure in providing first aid during the event.
• Hero Award – presented to John Groves of the major corrective campaigns team for demonstrating exceptional skill and expertise in rescue techniques across six emergency response scenarios.
• Top Student Award – presented to Matilda Urie of Rampion offshore wind farm for demonstrating exceptional skill across all disciplines, showcasing unwavering enthusiasm during background activities and leading her team to achieve a high standard of excellence.
• Best Performing Team Award – presented to Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm in recognition of their outstanding performance, teamwork and resilience under pressure, demonstrating a high level of first aid and rescue quality, and showcasing exceptional dedication and skill throughout the event. 

“The main highlight was witnessing the significant improvement in medical provisions, rescue equipment and individual skillsets," said Shaun. "The progress across all teams was truly remarkable.

“Another standout moment was the enthusiasm and commitment shown by all the teams. Their positive attitude not only made our job easier but also made the entire experience incredibly rewarding.”

RWE owns the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone, a portfolio of three offshore wind development projects: Vanguard West, Vanguard East and Boreas.