October 19, 2015

Students in the new hire training class for Granite Services International, participate in a Tower Rescue Training exercise, prior to climbing the wind turbine located adjacent to the North American Wind Research and Training Center.

Granite Services International Inc, an affiliate of General Electric (GE), held their seventh new hire training at the North American Wind Research and Training Center (NAWRTC) at Mesalands Community College. The focal point of Granite’s training is the use of the College’s 1.5 megawatt GE wind turbine, adjacent to the Wind Center.

“When you’re training on an operational site, they’re usually reluctant to shut the wind turbine down because it’s generating revenue,” said Kenneth Brennan, Resource Manager at Granite International. “We are already working with Mesalands Community College as one of our five partner schools in the Granite Services International Wind Technician Internship Program.”

Brennan said the classes for the new hire training average around nine students per class. Brennan also mentioned that during these one-week trainings, they discuss everything that has to do with wind turbines. Their trainings include, but are not limited to, the following: New Hire Orientation, CPR/First Aid Certification, Tower Rescue Training, Self-Rescue Training, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 training certification, and a Climb Test.

For the past three years, Granite has held their new intern training at the Wind Center. This training is held in June each year.

Jim Morgan, Director of the North American Wind Research and Training Center, explains the significance of the growing partnership between Mesalands and Granite.

“We welcome the opportunity to share our first-class facilities, including our wind turbine, with international companies like Granite and GE,” said Morgan. “We regularly stop our wind turbine to allow our students to gain hands-on experience and become well-qualified wind technicians. We are also always willing to partner with other companies that share that same goal.”

Granite will have another new hire training in either November or December and we are expecting 12 to 15 students in this class.

New hire trainees for Granite Services International, climb the wind turbine at the North American Wind Research and Training Center at Mesalands Community College.