Wind Farm Safety Wind Farm Safety John Newquist, CSP John Newquist, CSP Assistant Regional Administrator Assistant Regional Administrator OSHA Region V OSHA Region V February 4, 2008 February 4, 2008
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