GE Wind Turbine Climbing Rules and Rescue from Height

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Wind Turbine Climbing Rules

This material has been prepared from our GE Wind

Turbine Climbing Rules and procedure.

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Wind Turbine Climbing Rules

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GE 1.5MW Technology

*Based on 20-year lifetime

A single 1.5MW turbine

Can power 500 homes

Total weight is 155 Tons

Has blade sets that sweep the area of a football field

Tip speed = 200 MPH

*Approximate dimensions

250

370

Environmentally Sound

100MW Wind Farm*

Displacement of:

- 3 million tons of coal

- 1.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas

- 3.6 million barrels of oil

Emission Reductions

- 200,000 tons CO2/yr

Equivalent to:

40,000 cars off the road/yr

50,000 acres of planted forested land

Shipped as 9 components

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MAIN SHAFT

Designed for Performance Reliability

GEARBOX

CONTROL

COUPLING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TOWER

BLADES

PITCH

MAIN BEARING

SOFT BRAKE SYSTEM

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Weight Restrictions

The combined weight of a climber and his or her

equipment shall be no more than 150 kg (330 lbs).

Planning Considerations

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Wind Speed Limitations

At an average wind speed (10 minute average) of less than 15 m/s (33

mph), there are no wind speed related restrictions on work at the Wind

Turbine Generator (WTG)

Special Restrictions:

At an average wind speed (10 minute average) of 14 m/s to 19 m/s (33 44 mph)

Climbing on lattice towers is prohibited Climbing WTGs equipped with internal ladders will be permitted, however, no work shall be performed outside of the nacelle or transfers into the hub.

At an average wind speed (10 minute average) of 20 m/s (45 mph) or greater:

Climbing any WTGs is prohibited At wind speeds at or greater than 25 m/s (60 mph), no personnel are permitted to

be out on the wind site. This restriction does not apply to office, service, or shop

areas.

Planning Considerations

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Ambient Temperatures

There are also restrictions regarding working on the WTG when the

temperature is outside a certain range:

At or below 12 degrees C (10 degrees F) and at or above 26 degrees C (80 degrees F), site EHS representatives and site leadership will evaluate the work scope

and any appropriate strategies to mitigate the effects of temperature extremes

Work and rest periods at certain temperature extremes are defined HS11 in the Emergency Response Plan

Depending on wind speed, hub entries may be curtailed starting at 10 F. At 10 F and below hub entries are curtailed regardless of wind speed

Where technical assistance is needed to evaluate conditions and strategies, the Regional EHS Manager will be consulted

Any deviations from extreme weather limitations are not in a sites scope of authority and must be approved by Regional or Pole Operations and EHS manager

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Lightning Limitations

Level 1 Alert: Defined as confirmed lightning between 48

and 80 km (30-50 miles) from the WTG where work is being

performed.

Required action: all personnel are to be made aware of

lightning in the area and should be prepared to stop work and

seek shelter as the storm moves closer. Climbing all WTGs is prohibited

Level 2 Alert: Defined as confirmed lightning less than 48 km

(30 miles) from the WTG where work is being performed.

Required action: all personnel are to stop work immediately

and seek shelter off the wind farm until the storm passes.

All clear is given when lightning is greater than 48 km (30

miles) out from the site for greater than 30 minutes.

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Ice and Snow Limitations

Climbing is permitted in 1.5 WTGs covered by ice or snow. However, no work shall be performed outside of the nacelle or transfer into the hub

Vehicle Safety

Do not park vehicles directly below towers being serviced, repaired, or erected. When considering safe distance from drop hazards, evaluate work

being performed and equipment in use

Vehicles are to be parked into the wind where possible Always park trucks and personnel vehicles away from congested heavy equipment areas

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Clothing Requirements

The following clothing is required when working in and around WTG:

Long Pants (short pants are not permitted) Shirt sleeves are to be at a minimum of 4 off the shoulder (no tank tops) Clothing must be constructed of non-melting/non-flammable material such as untreated cotton, wool, rayon, silk or blends of these materials

Arc Flash gear must be worn when designated by Safety Risk Assessment or Electrical Safety Program

Basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Equipment Required to

Enter WTG:

Full body fall protection harness with Font, Back and Side D-Rings Ladder safe (ladsafe); In Canada Safety Device must be matched to Ladder Safety System Double Lanyards Y Construction with shock absorbers (Rope construction required). In Europe, lanyard with shock absorber and a short fixing lanyard

Suspension Trauma Strap Hard hat (if intended to be worn outside the nacelle, chin straps must be available) Steel-toe (or composite toe) safety boots- sturdy lugged soled footwear, capable of supporting ankle Hearing protection (when required by Risk Assessment or JSA)

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More Basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Equipment

Required to Enter WTG:

Lanyard keeper Safety glasses with side shields- will be worn at all times in or on the WTG and when downtower outside the vehicle

Gloves appropriate for climbing- cut resistant required for all work where there is a risk for a laceration Rescue/Escape System (Black Bag)- rope length must be greater than tower height Proper communication devices: Communication must work inside the tower (I.e. radios or cell phones) and must be a means for emergency communication back to other site office or emergency services.

Fall Protection Equipment Requirements

Only GE Energy issued or authorized fall arrest equipment may be used during tower or nacelle work

Equipment may not be altered for any reason and will be inspected daily by the user Faulty equipment will not be used at any time Fall protection equipment which has sustained a fall or impact must be removed from service and will either be destroyed or turned over to EHS so recertification can be

arranged

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Qualified Person Requirements

Pre-Climbing Considerations

To climb the wind turbine

generator (WTG), at least two

qualified persons must be

present. Qualifications consists

of being Work at Height

Qualified (GE tower Rescue

Course) and First Aid/CPR

qualified.

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Tower Rescue/Escape System Placement

For de-energized work (pad mount transformer isolated; no grid power)- the Tower

Rescue/Escape System must be at the base of the tower or higher, and readily available

For energized work- the Tower Rescue/Escape System must be at or above the level of

where the work is being performed.

For HOT WORK (welding, cutting)- the Tower Rescue/Escape System must be set up (rope

should not be deployed from the bag until needed) and ready for use and system should be

set up for hub deployment.

When there are more than 4 persons up tower an additional Rescue/Escape System will

be required

Pre-Climbing Considerations

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Hazard Awareness

Personnel must be aware of and take precaution to guard against pinch points,

crushing hazards, and rotating parts.

Refer to the Safety Risk Assessment/ JSA for the job tasks being performed.

Uptower Considerations

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While working up tower

Any garbage, trash, or bodily waste generated will be fully contained in an adequate container and

lowered or carried from the WTG after work is complete;

Nothing should be purposefully dropped from the WTG;

When transferring parts or tools outside of the nacelle or the hub, parts or tools should be secured from

falling, either by directly securing the item with a lanyard or by placing the part in a bag which is secured;

Uptower Considerations

Personnel Restrictions

A maximum of two personnel can be tied off to the nacelle safety rail;

A maximum of three personnel can simultaneously be outside the nacelle and hub;

Specifically:

Two people can be tied off to the nacelle safety rail and one person can be tied off to the hub safety rail;

Only two people may simultaneously be on the nacelle roof. If a third person is present, he or she must be on the hub.

If there will be a hub entry and the hub is energized, there will be a minimum of two qualified

persons uptower. If two individuals are simultaneously in the hub, there must be a third

qualified person uptower and present in the nacelle;

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LOTO Requirements

All hub entries require that EACH entrant hang their

personal LOTO lock and tag on the hub rotor lock (the use

of tags only, is not permitted).

Some turbines may require the use of a Cable LOTO

Device to allow proper LOTO of the rotor lock.

Uptower Considerations

DANGER

DO NOT

OPERATE

DANGER

DO NOT

OPERATE

REMARKS: ______________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

LOTO #__________ DATE _______

EQUIPMENT __________________

AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE

PRINT NAME _________________

SIGN NAME __________________

SEE OTHER SIDE

REASON ____________________

_____________________________

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Employee Rescue Trent Mesa, Windfarm- Trent Mesa, TX

Description: GE team was performing an annual maintenance at Trent Mesa, Turbine 49, which required a hub entry. When EE was accessing the hub, he slipped causing a fall over the nose cone. Coworkers responded and pulled EE up to the nacelle with the tractel rescue device. Employee was medically evaluated and was returned to service. Injuries consisted of scrapes and bruises. RCA team to be assembled 08 October

Accident: Slip and Fall from Hub Date:10/7/2009

g

Stitching maintained after shock.

Deployed Shockpack

Tractel unit applied to new lanyard style