Wind Turbine Safety Rules
Safety is paramount when working in any industry, but especially when working in an environment such as a wind turbine which introduces numerous additional hazards to an already hazardous industry.
OH&S
We have succesfully incorporated the WTSR's within our Integrated Management System (IMS) strengthening our Operational Health & Safety (OH&S) policies and procedures.
Our Clients and Employees are very dear to us and we want to ensure that we operate to the highest safety standards possible in order to prevent injury and foster wellbeing.
About the Wind Turbine Safety Rules
Greenergy Services has adopted the Renewable UK (formerly known as BWEA) Wind Turbine Safety Rules (WTSR's). These rules have been developed by wind farm owners and operators in the UK for the purpose of formalising a safe system of work for operational wind turbines.
The WTSR's have been operational since late 2005, and are used at over 100 wind farms in the UK and Ireland. In June 2009 they were revised to include minor improvements identified by operators based on experiences gained from their use.
Status of the WTSR's
Renewable UK considers that the WTSR's, when implemented correctly and appropriately:
represents industry good practice for safeguarding employees from the inherent dangers that exist from installed electrical and mechanical equipment in wind turbines; |
|
assist in the development and application of safe systems of work in a consistent manner; |
|
provide a robust approach to demonstrating legal compliance with relevant health and safety regulations. |
|
Overview of the WTSR's
A typical Wind Farm consists of two distinct systems:
The High Voltage (HV) infrastructure (HV rules apply) |
|
The Wind Turbine, its plant with their associated (LV) infrastructure (WTSR's apply) |
|
The boundary between these two systems needs to be clearly defined - a typical example is shown below:
To carry out work on equipment in a wind turbine, the WTSR's require Approved Written Procedures (AWP's) to be put in place for each work package significant enough to warrant it. An AWP is a procedure which specifies how work on plant & apparatus below 1000V AC or 1500V DC, will be carried out safely - it is similar to a method statement and it includes checkpoint signatures as auditable proof that safety precautions were applied for the duration of the work. The WTSR's also give guidance on when AWP's are required and when they are not necessary.
