2009 Face Conference Energy Le Moine

GARY LeMOINE, ENVIRONMENT HEALTH SAFETY – USA & Canada

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

FACE Conference 2009 OHSU, Portland, OR

Wind Energy Growing Quickly

CPETITIVE

Minimal Impacts to Landowner

CPETITIVE

US Wind Market Growth Potential:20% Wind Scenario by 2030

AWEA 2007 report

20% Wind Job Benefits

From AWEA report for 2007

• Maintaining the Health & Safety of all persons during this growth -In 2007: 5,244 MW added, Cumulative over 16,800 MW

• Supporting responsible, consistent, regulatory compliant industry that encourages a proactive safety culture amongst wind companies

• Working cooperatively with regulators like OSHA and stakeholders on safety and regulatory issues that integrates engineering safety solutions with advancing technology

• Laying the Groundwork for the Health & Safety offuture US workforce – 150,000 employees

US Wind Safety Challenges: Significant

Wind Plant Siting Issues

• No national wind siting regulations yet• State, County, Federal property

siting requirements vary WA has State Siting guidelines as exampleTurbine Setbacks vary from roads/homesCommunity Noise stds, Flicker shadow

• FAA - Radar, DOD concerns• Potential Endangered Species, Migratory Bird, Eagle Acts:

(Birds, Bats, other species)Requirements for pre-post construction avian studies Risk varies region to region, solutions vary

Challenges in Wind Construction

• New contractors entering arena

• Less Experience with dilution amongst contractors

• New turbine suppliers, designs, new technology

• Challenging Logistics and site conditions in many cases

• Aggressive industry growth and challenging construction schedules

Solution: Construction Bid Cycle must include Safety

ContractorPre-Qualification:

• Experience• Safety

•Contractor•Prepares Bid

including Safety

Project Mgmt:•Engineering•Commercial

Project Mgmt:• Rev/Select Bid

• NegotiateContract & Safety requirements

BeginConstruction-

Project Kickoff includes safety

Construction

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Construction: civil & tower assembly projects

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•Projects on leased land, farms•Construct Gravel access roads •Excavate, Reinforced concrete foundations constructed•Tower components delivered, assembled, commissioned•Substation, collection system

EHS Issues•Traffic, heavy equipment safety•Crane critical lifting plans•Fall hazards•Tool use, ergonomic concerns•Crop damage, range fire safety •Weather, ESA Impacts

Driving Safety

Operations & Maintenance

CPETITIVE

Wind Ops Example ProgramsMeet or Exceed Regulations

• MANAGEMENT/ EMPLOYEE RESP• SAFETY & HEALTH COMMITTEES• EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Qualifications and Proficiency• Regulatory required training

• RISK MANAGEMENT• Manufacturer's O&M Procedures• Job Safety Analysis

• ELECTRICAL SAFETY• LOCKOUT/TAGOUT• FIRE PROTECTION

• Hot Work Procedures• Fire Extinguishers• Site Fire Safety

• FALL PROTECTION• Climbing for 3rd parties

• Rescue from Heights• EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

• First Aid/CPR/AED/BBP

•OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH• Hazard Communication • Ergonomics / Lifting • Fitness for Duty• Hearing Conservation

•CONFINED SPACE•VEHICLE SAFETY•PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIP•CHEMICAL SPILLS

• Clean up and Disposal• Reporting

•MATERIAL HANDLING•THIRD PARTY SAFETY ISSUES

• Visitors and Site Orientation•CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS•PUBLIC SAFETY •SITE SECURITY•HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS•CONFINED SPACE•AVIAN/ ENDANGERED SPECIES

Do You have Appropriate Employee EHS Training & Qualification Programs?

Are Employees Qualified for Work they do?• Fall Protection & Rescue• Technical Training on Equipment, O&M

or Commissioning Procedures • Electrical Hazard ID & Controls

(1910.269)• LOTO• First Aid/ CPR• Hot /cold weather Documented training records are Important

LOCK OUT / TAG OUTWind Turbine Hazardous Energy

Mechanical: Wind, Wind, Wind

Rotor Lock, Drives, Gears

Hydraulic

Etc

Electrical:

Generators

Converter Cabinets

Transformers

Wind Turbine Collapse from Overspeed

Enclosed / Confined Spaces – Evaluate Turbines for Regulatory Compliance

Possible Hazard Assessment areas• Hub Entry - Control Hazardous Energy prior

to entry: (Wind), Electrical, Mechanical, Hydraulic

• Atmospheric Evaluations- Blade Entry past hatch, some hubs, extensive Hot Work & Chemical use with limited ventilation

• Hot Work – Fire & smoke issues, escape

Ergonomics, Fitness for Duty

• Tower Jobs Physically Demanding, 1-3 climbs/day 60-80 meter towers

• Many of today’s installed turbines difficult to work on

• Heavy Components, tools• Lifts into truck: 25 - 40+ # tool bags,

tower rescue bag• From Truck to base of tower: Oil pump

25-30#• Torque wrench/pump: 71#• Lifts in nacelle

• Many work positions cramped or awkward postures

How Fit is your Workforce?

Consider Developing a “Fit for Duty”Program

• FFD program requires work analysis by medical professional to establish physical demands for job which are then evaluated by appropriate exam, ex: firefighter

• Wind Operations Jobs are Physically Demanding. Reduces chance of injuries by being proactive in matching demands with physical capacities

• Allows Employees to enjoy greater health throughout working years and into retirement

• Supports Proactive Safety & Health Culture– Gives Employees Wake-up call and coaching on their health

More Reasons For “Fit for Duty” Program• Good Job Descriptions & Physical Capacity Requirements assist Dr in Return to Work• ***Helps Support the Ergonomics Program• Lack of Fitness is a Significant Contributing Factor to Injuries in many Companies• Support for Ongoing Fitness

Wind FIRST AID & AEDs

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First Aid Hazard Assessment- Wind examples•Back/upper limbs sprains and strains – lifting related •Eye injuries – chemicals, particles from tool use•Heat Exhaustion, hypothermia, frostbite - weather related•Chemical burns: battery acid or strong cleaners •Cuts/Abrasions: Sharp edges, tool injuries, Equip handling

First Aid Plan, Important features•Speed of response & availability of FA Supplies in Towers•Because of crew makeup and typical remoteness, all field staff should be trained in First Aid/CPR/BBP •Number of companies have AEDs on site

Public SafetyAccess to Wind Plants,

High Curiosity Factor create Risk for:

Public Safety Vandalism

Landowners /permit / access requirements may increase public safety issues

Reduced Signage - Keep Out, Safety WarningsReduced or Limited Fencing

Recreational area plants increase public access: snowmobiling, 4 wheelers, motorcycles

• AWEA Wind Power Health & Safety Workshop, September 16 - 17, 2009, Snowbird, UT expecting 400 attendees by leading industry topics, experts

• AWEA Health & Safety Committee provides networking, subcommittees actively looking at topics in constructions, operations, designs and standards, vendor issues

• About 100 Committee members from AWEA member companies: owners, manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, contractors, other vendors involved

• Michele Myers is the AWEA Health & Safety Manager• Europeans are engaging in similar activities as AWEA, similar topics

Want More – AWEA Safety Committee

Questions??????????

Thank You

Contact Information:Gary LeMoine, MSPH, JD, CIH, CSPDirector - Environment Health Safety Security, USA & CANADAIBERDROLA RENEWABLES1125 NW Couch, Suite 700, Portland, OR 97209(503) [email protected]

Everyone Goes Home Safe &We Don’t Harm the Environment