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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

~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.

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.

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

Fall arrest can be caught in gear boxes

Lockout Recent lock out directive. No grandfathering in directive

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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