Wind Farm SafetyWind Farm Safety

John Newquist, CSPJohn Newquist, CSP Assistant Regional AdministratorAssistant Regional Administrator

OSHA Region VOSHA Region VFebruary 4, 2008February 4, 2008

2025

• "Illinois is in the middle of a wind power boom. There's more wind power in development in Illinois right now than any other state in the country," said Howard Learner, Environmental Law and Policy Center.

• That's because Illinois has wind, a power grid easily reached, a big market and now a new law that says by the year 2025, 25 percent of the electricity Illinois needs must come from renewable sources - most of that would be wind power

How Many are Out There?

13384 built so far.

Wind Farm Standards

1910.269 applies for maintenance

Issues

• 1 descent control – 4 ees

• Compatibility of electrical systems from foreign manufacturers

• Transformer put up in newer Nacelles

• Smoke detection

• LOTO at bottom

• Take Harness off to move around in module

Issues

• Tower vibrations and fatigues in structures• Confined space• 4 minute first aid rule• 70E• Fire extinguisher monthly inspections• Equipment turning over – cranes

dumptruck• Road Buckles

issues

• Undergrowth is difficult to walk through• 24 hour operation during construction • Cranes lifting at maximum capacity• Different components for different

manufacturers makes electrical hookup difficult.

• Fall Protection• Compressed Gas Cylinders – dropped

when hoist, fire source in turbine

Issues

• Rigging• Climbs of 200 feet• Excavation for pads. • Housekeeping – oil leaks• Temperature extremes – cold and hot• RT Forklifts• Concrete truck maintenance• Curious spectacles watch erection

Issues

• Where is the clinic?

• Spiders, snakes, and wasps

Hiring

• ~70% of the labor hired will be local and not familiar with wind towers

• This requires expanded safety and health orientation

New Maintenance Employees

• Experience sore elbows and forearms from using the torque wrenches wrong

• Foot path to tower is often rough

• Maybe have to climb 3 towers in one day.

• Many try to carry too much from the truck to the tower base instead of doing lighter loads and more trips.

Fit for Duty

• Workers tested every 2-3 years

• Tests measure flexibility, strength, andcardiovascular. Exams are ~$500 each.

• Climbs are up to 250 feet.

• Young people new to the area and towers are not hardened to the work.

Tower Erection

Tower Erection

Tower Erection

Raising the Nacelle

Critical Lifts

Anyone Up for a Short 250 ft. Climb?

Entry

Inside the Nacelle

Fires

Base support

Oil leaks

8/26/2007

Machine Guarding

• Fall arrest can be caught in gear boxes

Lockout

• Recent lock out directive.

• No grandfathering in directive

•

Electrical

• Proposed NPFA 850 standard

• 1910.269 applies.

• Turbine will have exposed electrical

• Industry should be using Voltage rated tools and Class 2 clothing

Fire Protection

• Industry can use fire resistive lubes and hydraulic fluids

• Most fires are electrical

• Hazard of putting transformers in the tower

• Brake pads of copper prevent shower of sparks unlike metallic ones.

• Local alarm should be tied to wind turbine controller with audible alarms throughout.

Fire Protection

• Elevated temperature alarms should be provided to warm of overheating

• Tough to use total flooding in open ventilated area

• Water will freeze in many climates

Falling Objects

• Tools are the most common object that fall while hoists or climbing.

• Hoisted cylinders have also fallen.

Confined Space

• One way out• Fire hazard from

oil and smoke from electrical

• Electrical• Thermal• Mechanical• Transformers

now inside many new ones

Rescue

• They have to be taught self rescue

• Many bring out the local FD to show them how rescue is to be done.

• Many have first aid kits in tower and AED in trucks.

Transformers

• All over 1300 gallons• Containment is needed

per 40 CFR 112• Companies have to train

employees how to handle spills.

• Glass will fly 300 feet if a fire on a transformer is hit w ith water.

• Do not put new transformer in front of escape door.

Fall Protection

• ANSI Z359.1 -2007 requires 3600# gates on snap hooks.

• Workers need to be trained in what to look for when inspecting fall arrest equipment.

Shadow Flicker

Websites

• American Wind Energy Association at www.awea.org

• British Wind Energy Association at www.bwea.com

• 2005 Guidelines

• Wind Turbine Safety Rules

• http://www.windpower.org