Organization provides training to empower erectors leading a new generation of energy-industry construction. AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- As more and more wind turbines are erected across the open plains, farmlands, and mountain ridges of the United States, the need for ironworkers with specialized construction skills has naturally grown, says the Iron Workers International Union. Ask anyone knowledgeable about wind energy, and you'll quickly learn that the latest "green" technology - despite a recent surge in public interest - is nothing new to union ironworkers. In fact, ironworkers have been erecting wind turbines for decades. What is new is a need for independent certifications-driven largely by increased scrutiny of the wind energy sector - meant to improve safety and quality across the industry. In response, the Iron Workers International Union (www.ironworkers.org) - working with the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT) - is offering wind turbine training programs for union ironworkers to develop key construction skills. Through a new IMPACT (www.impact-net.org) program, certification in torque/tension and tower-climbing and safety procedures, including high-angle rescue procedures, comes from industry-recognized leaders, including Capital Safety (DBI/SALA) (www.capitalsafety.com), Snap-on Industrial (www.snapon.com), and HYTORC.
