Workplace Safety in the Renewable Energy Sector: Keeping Wind Turbine Climbers Safe

Falls during ascent, descent, stationary work, and rescue operations represent a constant hazard, so fall safety equipment like a ladder safety device, safety harness, and fall protection lanyard are essential to protecting wind turbine climbers.

Wind Power Workers and the Risks They Face

There are more than 57,000 wind turbines in the US and roughly 6,400 across Canada. These men and women tasked with constructing, inspecting, maintaining, and repairing these massive pieces of equipment put themselves in harm's way every day. As an employer or manager, it's your obligation to provide them with proper safety equipment and training per OSHA or Canada Occupational Health & Safety guidelines.

The principal areas of safety concern for turbine climbers:

Fall Safety

It's not surprising that falls are a major hazard for wind turbine workers. Keep in mind that you need to provide fall protection anytime employees are working at height. That means installing compliant fall safety equipment, providing adequate personal protective equipment, and providing adequate safety training. 

Confined Space Safety

At first glance, a wind turbine may not seem like a confined space hazard. But the truth is that the towers of these turbines are essentially enclosed ladders. This space as well as some areas of the nacelle meet “confined space” criteria, being large enough for someone to fully or partially enter, having limited egress, and not meant for continuous habitation. There may be additional hazards present that can make the space even more dangerous, such as unguarded machinery, extreme temperatures, or powerful electrical currents. 

Weather Conditions and Hazards

Wind turbine techs often can't take the day off due to inclement weather. Climbing a turbine when it's raining, snowing, or in very high-wind situations makes an already dangerous job even more so. That's why it's so important for workers to take the time to ensure they're using the right safety equipment to protect themselves, and to be properly protected from not only extreme heat and cold, but also from sunburn, harsh winds, potential lightning strikes, and dangerous noise levels.

How to Minimize Wind Turbine Fall Hazards

The dangers of working at height cannot be overstated and it's imperative that your employees understand how important fall safety is. The hazards workers face when climbing wind turbines are multiplied when the remote location of many wind farms is taken into account. In addition, wind techs may have to work solo which is even more hazardous. Take action to minimize the dangers including:

Practice Wind Turbine Ladder Safety

In order to perform maintenance, repairs, and inspections, workers need to climb the tower via an enclosed, fixed ladder to access the nacelle, hub and blades of the wind turbine. Climbing up and down a ladder that's in excess of 300 feet/90 meters isn't easy. In fact, it's one of the most difficult parts of a wind turbine technician's job. Using a compliant climb assist device for every climb and descent makes their job safer and easier. 

Not only is this type of equipment effective for preventing and protecting against falls, it can also help workers with the climb. By supporting some of the climber's weight, a ladder safety device can reduce fatigue and muscle pain, which results in fewer falls and other accidents.

Take these steps to ensure ladder safety when ascending a wind turbine:

• Assess the conditions of the ladder, ladder safety system, and ladder safety device before climbing.

• Use compliant personal fall protection equipment such as a safety harness and fall protection lanyard.

• Keep three points of contact with the ladder at all times while climbing (2 hands, 1 foot or 1 hand, 2 feet).

• Also assess the climber's health and ability to climb the ladder safely.

Prepare for High winds

The main reason that wind turbines are so tall is that the wind blows the strongest far above the ground. While that's good for producing power, it makes things more dangerous for workers. While it's always best to perform maintenance and repairs when the weather is pleasant, that's not always possible. When workers must access the wind turbine nacelle during strong wind, they are the most exposed to the elements:

• Use a safety harness that's specially designed for the wind energy industry (lightweight, non-conductive, strong, and comfortable).

• Take special care to inspect the fall protection lanyard, work positioning lanyard,  lifelines, and other equipment before use.

• Provide protective clothing, eyewear, and earwear to prevent harm from high winds, extreme temperatures, and sun exposure.

Proper Work Positioning

When wind turbine employees are working on the exterior, an added layer of protection is necessary to keep them safe. Work positioning lanyards contribute to the safety of workers at height. Benefits of work positioning lanyards include:

• Providing support for workers and to prevent a fall from happening.

• Added stability when working on angled surfaces or in high winds.

• Allows workers to safely use both hands while both feet stay on a ladder.

Confined Space Safety Protocols

Once a worker has climbed to the top of the wind turbine, some of the work they'll do requires them to enter the confined spaces within the nacelle. In addition, the enclosed ladder within the tower leading to the nacelle can be extremely dangerous. Not only is the risk of a fall present, but there are also other potential hazards that employees need to be aware of and take action to prevent. When entering a confined space on a wind turbine, workers should:

• Use compliant protective equipment (safety harness, fall protection lanyard, lifeline, etc.).

• Pay close attention to the environment inside the space (temperature, air quality, electricity, etc.)

• Work in pairs so there is someone available to perform a rescue if need be.

• Maintain frequent communications with workers during all tower work, especially in confined spaces.

Lifting and Lowering Equipment & Workers

When an employee makes their way up to the top of a wind turbine to perform repairs or maintenance, they need appropriate tools. Carrying anything while climbing such a tall ladder is unsafe for the climber and anyone below, even with the help of a ladder safety device. If a tool or part falls it could hurt someone or cause property damage. Rather than risk these negative outcomes:

• Use compliant lift equipment to move parts, tools, and equipment.

• Ensure lift equipment is capable of handling the weight of tools/equipment.

• Provide lanyards for workers to attach hand tools to when climbing.

• Secure tools, equipment, and other items before lifting or lowering.

Likewise, in the event that a worker needs to be lowered from the nacelle or ladder of the turbine to the ground, incorporating a controlled descent device to assist with rescues is a must. These rope descender devices offer slowed lowering of over 1,300 feet for one person, and 650 ft for two, making them an ideal fit for modern wind turbines.

Regulation-Compliant Wind Turbine Safety Equipment 

The renewable energy sector is growing by leaps and bounds, and wind farms are providing more and more households with reliable, clean power. Keeping wind turbine workers safe when inspecting, repairing, and maintaining this vital equipment is our area of expertise. In fact, Tractel® is the industry leader when it comes to fall safety equipment for the wind energy industry. 

Contact Tractel® today to learn more about fall safety on wind turbines, fall protection regulations, or to discuss your worker's fall safety needs. One of our qualified safety experts will assist you and answer any questions you may have.