wind health & safety issues
TRANSCRIPT
GARY LeMOINE, CIH, CSP, DIRECTOR - ENVIRONMENT HEALTH SAFETY SECURITY
WIND HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
EEI Health & Safety Conference April 27th, 2010, New Orleans, LA
US Large Wind will be the Topic
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US Wind Energy Health & Safety
• US Wind Industry Growth & Projections• US Large Wind Health & Safety
– Wind Project Construction Safety Issues– Wind Operations & Maintenance Health & Safety Issues– Occupational Health, Fit for Duty– Other Safety Areas
• International Associations and Stds • AWEA Source for Information
Big Horn 199.5 MW Owned
Klondike 24 MW Owned
Klondike II75 MW Owned
Klondike III223.6 MW Owned
Klondike IIIa76.5 MW Owned
Stateline300 MW PPA
North American Wind Assets
Pleasant Valley144 MW PPA
Twin Buttes75 MW Owned
High Winds162 MW PPA
Shiloh150 MW Owned
Mountain View III22.44 MW Owned
Dillon45 MW Owned MID-CONTINENT
REGION
MinnDakota150 MW Owned
Elk River150 MW Owned
WESTERN REGION
Casselman34.5 MW Owned
Locust Ridge26 MW Owned
Maple Ridge II45.4 MW Owned (91 MW Project)
NORTHEAST REGIONFlying Cloud
43.5 MW Owned
Updated March 1, 2010
Wind projects owned or controlled
Colorado Green81 MW Owned
(162 MW Project)
Winnebago 20 Owned
Providence Heights72 MW Owned
Top of Iowa II,80 MW OwnedMoraine
51 MW Owned
Trimont101 MW Owned
Lempster 24 MW Owned
Locust Ridge II102 MW Owned
Pebble Springs98.7 MW Owned
Buffalo Ridge50.4 MW Owned
Elm Creek
Maple Ridge 1115.5 MW Owned (231 MW Project)
Moraine II49.5 MW Owned
Peñascal202 MW Owned
Barton Chapel120 MW Owned
Barton160 MW Owned
99 MW Owned
Farmers City 146 MW Owned
Dry Lake63 MW Owned
Star Point60.9 MW Owned
Hay Canyon 100.8 MW Owned
Streator Cayuga Ridge300 MW Owned
Rugby1491.1 MW Owned
WindPower Growth in US: 2009Second year in a row adding over 40% of US capacity
Win
d M
W In
stal
led Total Installation in 4Q 2009:
4,041 MW
Total Installation in 2009:9,922 MW
Total U.S. Installation through 4Q 2009:35,159 MW
Source: American Wind Energy Association
National Wind Capacity of 35,159 MW(installed wind by state)
Date Source: AWEAAlaska included in total but not
represented on map
State RPS State RPS Goal
HI63
MT375
CA2,794
AZ63
CO1,246
NM597
TX9,410
IA3,670
MN1,809
WI449
IL1,547
NY1,274
PA748
MA: 15
ME: 175
VT6
WA1,980
OR1,758
NH26
NC
MO309
VA
ND1,203
SD313
UT223
OH7
Updated January 2010
MD
DENJ: 8
CTRI: 1
DC
MI143
ID147
NV
WY1,101
NE153
KS1,014
OK1,130
IN1,036
TN29
WV330
Job Projections Under 20% Report,creates Training & Safety Challenges
• Over 500,000 total jobs would be supported by the wind industry
• In 2008, wind industry added 35,000 new jobs
Source: U.S. DOE, 20% Wind Energy by 2030Source: American Wind Energy Association
Wind Plant Siting Issues
• State, County, Federal property siting requirements vary
• WA has State Siting guidelines as example• Turbine Setbacks vary from roads/homes• Community Noise stds
• Other Agencies’ concerns• US F&W S developing Wind Siting guidelines• Migratory Bird, Eagle Acts, Endangered Species:
(Birds, Bats, other species) – Train Employees• Pre-post construction avian studies
Wind Plant Siting Issues
Wind Project Construction
CPETITIVE
Construction: Civil project, tower assembly project, substation project
CPETITIVE
•Projects on leased land, farms•Construct Gravel access roads •Excavate (sloping), Reinforced concrete foundations built•Tower components delivered, assembled, commissioned•Substation, collection system installed (underground preferred), transmission interconnectHazards•Delivery Traffic, vehicle safety, heavy equipment safety, •Crane safety, critical lifting plans, unloading, moving cranes•Fall hazards, lifting, ppe•Electrical safety, quality control on installation•Tool use, lack of experience especially with temp workers•Range Fire safety, Weather, Weather
Reinforced concrete foundations: turbine bolts to it
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Turbine AssemblyCritical Lifts Key FocusLoad Limiting Factors• Not level • Weather (Wind, Rain, Ice, Snow)• Use of extensions, jibs and other
attachments• Limits of wire rope, slings and lifting
devices
Assembly, Rotor Attachment
Everything has to Line up
Present Designs Have the Important Components Inside the Nacelle
Source: American Wind Energy Association
Testing / Commissioning Systems Important Task, Risks
Wind Operations & Maintenance
CPETITIVE
Wind Ops & Maintenance Safety & Health Program examples
• MANAGEMENT/ EMPLOYEE Responsibilities• SAFETY & HEALTH COMMITTEES• EDUCATION AND TRAINING
• Qualifications and Proficiency• Regulatory required training• Documentation/Recordkeeping
• RISK MANAGEMENT• Manufacturer's O&M Procedures• Job Safety Analysis*
• 1910.269• Electrical qualifications • Electrical safety, PPE• LOTO• Enclosed / Confined Spaces
• FALL PROTECTION• Fall Protection• Rescue from Heights
FIRE PROTECTION•Hot Work Procedures, Fire Extinguishers•Site Fire Safety
•OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH•Fit for Duty•Hazard Communication •Hearing Conservation (?)
•VEHICLE SAFETY•PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT•CHEMICAL SPILLS & SPCC Plans•MATERIAL HANDLING
•Hoisting and Rigging•THIRD PARTY SAFETY ISSUES
•Visitors and Site Orientation•Public Safety
•EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS•First Aid/CPR/BBP/AEDs
•HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS •Lightning, Tornadoes, High Winds•Icing & Snow
Do You have Appropriate Employee Qualification & EHS Training Programs?
Technician Training• Some good community college programs • Manufacturer’s, Owners and 3rd party specialty
trainers (ie, Fall protection/rescue) have coursesAre Employees Qualified for Work they do?• Fall Protection & Rescue• Technical Training on Equipment, O&M or Corrective
Procedures as these apply• Power Generation Standard (1910.269)
– Electrical Hazard ID & Controls, Arc Flash– LOTO
• First Aid/ CPR, Emergency response, PPE, Weather, etc, etc, etc.
• 3rd Party O&M Contractors Common: Manufacturers, O&M Contractors, Specialty Contractors (blade repairs, etc)
• Wide variations in oversight for 3rd party operated sites in wind: 1) Absent Owners, 2) Owner site rep, 3) Owner issuing work permits & site access docs
• Good practice- Pre-qualify, and Safety Orientations are used to review site requirements for various safety requirements for contractors, visitors
• More detailed review for more hazardous contractor work: aerial blade repair, gearbox change
• Be Consistent in approach, Require Contractor Reporting of Key Activities:
• Accidents, Environmental Spills, Near Misses, Avian Issues• Equipment Damage
Who is Doing the Work? Contractor Safety Management
Break-in Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance on a scheduleTools/ equipment generally winched up/down for work, prevent drops
Source: American Wind Energy Association
Ergonomics, Fitness for DutyFall Protection Fundamental: Turbine Access: Ladders, Ladders with Climb Assists,Service Lifts (elevators)
Typical Generation Industry Hazards: LOTO of Hazardous Energy
Mechanical: Wind turns system
Rotor Lock, Drives, Gears
Hydraulic
Etc
Electrical:
Generators
Converter Cabinets
Transformers
1910.269 Enclosed Space Discussion Paper
Enclosed / Confined Spaces –Evaluate Hazards
Possible Hazard Assessment areas• Hub Entry - Control Hazardous
Energy prior to entry: Wind, Electrical, Mechanical, Hydraulic
• Atmospheric Evaluations- Blade Entry past hatch, extensive Hot Work & Chemical use with limited ventilation
• Hot Work – Fire and smoke issues, escape routes
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
• Some work positions in awkward postures
Should you consider a Wind Fit for Duty Program
How Fit is your Workforce?
Issues in Establishing Medical Exam Requirements• Implementing Pre-Employment /Periodic Medical Exam Requirements
has Many Legal Requirements, Complexity and Cost
– American with Disabilities Act
• Job Related & Business Necessity, Non-Discriminatory
– Privacy Requirements which vary, Medical Record Confidentiality
– HIPPA - cannot access records under health insurance
– Age Discrimination Issues
– Cost – Employer pays for preparing & administering program
– Consistently applied
– Proactively deal with Employee concerns – not to get rid of them
– Requires expertise in preparing and administration
Different Approaches For New Wind Hires for Working at Heights• Programs Not One Size Fits All
– Not Legally or regulatory required like OSHA required tests, CDL exams as specified.
• Be able to defend what you do, Legal Issues identified earlier
• D&A, Baseline Hearing test for Risk Management
• Climbing Test for new Hires & Transfers
• All CDL Drivers receive designated exam
• Medical Exam with Focus on medical conditions affecting Wind Tech work
• Detailed FFD Approach following is one way some companies perform
– If you don’t do this, some steps may help improve your program.
Example FFD ProgramMedical Examination, part 1
• All candidates receive thorough Medical Physical Exam
–Extensive medical history evaluation
–Physical from Occupational physician
–Lab Work
–Evaluate for numerous medical conditions that could
affect working at heights
–Vision and Baseline Hearing test
FFD Part 2Fitness for Climbing Treadmill Cardio stress test
•Test represents fitness required for climbing turbine•Monitored by Occ Physician• EKG, Pulse, BP, Blood Gas
FFD, Part 3 Occupational TherapyPhysical Capacity - Multiple Tests
Occupational/ Physical Therapy does Tests
•Coach on lifting and body mechanics to prevent injury•Grip, Pinch Strength •Horizontal Push & Pulls•Vertical Pull Tests•Lift and Carry Tests
•Agility, Balance ,& Body Mechanics•Heal to toe•Squats•Ladder climbing
FFD Part 4Field Climbing Test
• Practical field test necessary for candidates to complete hiring process besides medical evaluation
• Must be performed by experienced Ops Management or Climbing Instructor
• Verifies field ability to perform climbing, address fear of heights, performance of work
• Documentation
3rd Party Climbing
Non-Ops Employees & 3rd Party Visitors•No 3rd party climbs without business purpose•Plant Manager or above must approve•Most 3rd parties have OSHA compliant Fall Protection Programs, Equipment•Train 3rd party on climbing, safety hazard, must pass all aspects, Monitor climb closely •Non-company employees must sign Waiver, Health Self Certification
First Aid & Rescue ScenariosFirst Aid Plan, Important features• First Aid Supplies and tower rescue equipment need to be
immediately available for quick response• With crew makeup and typical site remoteness, all field
technicians must be certified in First Aid/CPR/BBP~ 8hr.• When doing electrical work, FA/CPR required to be available
within 4 minutes. Tower Rescue• If there is no one tower rescue trained on crew, no climbing. • Tower Rescue Bag & FA Kit go up tower for substantial work• Periodic rescue refreshers• Many rural volunteer fire departments not well equipped or
trained to respond Tower Rescue training in Europe
Thunderstorm Predictor, Warning and Alert Zones
Security, Public SafetySecurity• Wind Plants Highly Visible, Curiousity
• Public Safety • Vandalism• Theft
• Metal theft risk, Copper wire /turbine cablesPublic Safety• Landowners /permit / access requirements
may mandate:• Reduced Signage - Keep Out, Safety Warnings• Reduced or Limited Fencing• Farming needs to avoid plant equipment
• Recreational area plants increase public access concerns: snowmobiling/ice fall, ATVs, motorcycles, hunting 34
AWEA & OSHA DISCUSSIONS • Ongoing discussions
between AWEA and OSHA on Safety and Training in the Industry
– OSHA 10 Hour and 30 Hour,
– OSHA Fact Sheets
– Region V Training Program shared with AWEA members
– Special Emphasis programs in some areas
INTERNATIONAL SAFETY CONTACTS
• European Stds source for most turbine designs• Parallel Wind Associations in Europe to US• BWEA - UK has very active Safety and Health
Committee, Good guidance on offshore– Regular meetings, conferences– Offshore guidelines
• AEE – Spain – European Wind Risk Conf.• EWEA – Europe• Many good turbine safety rules, sometimes hard
to translate to US OSHA regulatory requirements
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American Wind Energy Association Safety Contact & Information:
Michele MyersManager, Labor, Health and Safety Policywww.awea.org | 202-383-2500 | [email protected]
??Questions??
Thank you for your attention!
Gary LeMoine, 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