GE Wind Turbine Climbing Rules and Rescue from Height

Transcription

1 GE Wind Turbine Climbing Rules and Rescue from Height

2 Wind Turbine Climbing Rules This material has been prepared from our GE Wind Turbine Climbing Rules and procedure. Image Place Holder Image Place Holder Image Place Holder 2 /

3 Wind Turbine Climbing Rules Image Place Holder Image Place Holder Image Place Holder 3 /

4 GE 1.5MW Technology *Approximate dimensions Shipped as 9 components A single 1.5MW turbine Can power 500 homes Total weight is 155 Tons Has blade sets that sweep the area of a football field Tip speed = 200 MPH Environmentally Sound *Based on 20-year lifetime 100MW Wind Farm* Displacement of: - 3 million tons of coal billion cubic meters of natural gas million barrels of oil Emission Reductions - 200,000 tons CO2/yr Equivalent to: 40,000 cars off the road/yr 50,000 acres of planted forested land 4 /

5 GEARBOX MAIN SHAFT Designed for Performance Reliability MAIN BEARING SOFT BRAKE SYSTEM PITCH CONTROL BLADES COUPLING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TOWER 5 /

6 Planning Considerations Weight Restrictions The combined weight of a climber and his or her equipment shall be no more than 150 kg (330 lbs). 6 /

7 Planning Considerations Wind Speed Limitations At an average wind speed (10 minute average) of less than 15 m/s (33 mph), there are no wind speed related restrictions on work at the Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) Special Restrictions: At an average wind speed (10 minute average) of 14 m/s to 19 m/s (33 44 mph) Climbing on lattice towers is prohibited Climbing WTG s equipped with internal ladders will be permitted, however, no work shall be performed outside of the nacelle or transfers into the hub. At an average wind speed (10 minute average) of 20 m/s (45 mph) or greater: Climbing any WTG s is prohibited At wind speeds at or greater than 25 m/s (60 mph), no personnel are permitted to be out on the wind site. This restriction does not apply to office, service, or shop areas. 7 /

8 Ambient Temperatures There are also restrictions regarding working on the WTG when the temperature is outside a certain range: At or below 12 degrees C (10 degrees F) and at or above 26 degrees C (80 degrees F), site EHS representatives and site leadership will evaluate the work scope and any appropriate strategies to mitigate the effects of temperature extremes Work and rest periods at certain temperature extremes are defined HS11 in the Emergency Response Plan Depending on wind speed, hub entries may be curtailed starting at 10 F. At 10 F and below hub entries are curtailed regardless of wind speed Where technical assistance is needed to evaluate conditions and strategies, the Regional EHS Manager will be consulted Any deviations from extreme weather limitations are not in a site s scope of authority and must be approved by Regional or Pole Operations and EHS manager 8 /

9 Lightning Limitations Level 1 Alert: Defined as confirmed lightning between 48 and 80 km (30-50 miles) from the WTG where work is being performed. Required action: all personnel are to be made aware of lightning in the area and should be prepared to stop work and seek shelter as the storm moves closer. Climbing all WTG s is prohibited Level 2 Alert: Defined as confirmed lightning less than 48 km (30 miles) from the WTG where work is being performed. Required action: all personnel are to stop work immediately and seek shelter off the wind farm until the storm passes. All clear is given when lightning is greater than 48 km (30 miles) out from the site for greater than 30 minutes. 9 /

10 Ice and Snow Limitations Climbing is permitted in 1.5 WTG s covered by ice or snow. However, no work shall be performed outside of the nacelle or transfer into the hub Vehicle Safety Do not park vehicles directly below towers being serviced, repaired, or erected. When considering safe distance from drop hazards, evaluate work being performed and equipment in use Vehicles are to be parked into the wind where possible Always park trucks and personnel vehicles away from congested heavy equipment areas 10 /

11 Clothing Requirements The following clothing is required when working in and around WTG: Long Pants (short pants are not permitted) Shirt sleeves are to be at a minimum of 4 off the shoulder (no tank tops) Clothing must be constructed of non-melting/non-flammable material such as untreated cotton, wool, rayon, silk or blends of these materials Arc Flash gear must be worn when designated by Safety Risk Assessment or Electrical Safety Program Basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Equipment Required to Enter WTG: Full body fall protection harness with Font, Back and Side D-Rings Ladder safe (ladsafe); In Canada Safety Device must be matched to Ladder Safety System Double Lanyards Y Construction with shock absorbers (Rope construction required). In Europe, lanyard with shock absorber and a short fixing lanyard Suspension Trauma Strap Hard hat (if intended to be worn outside the nacelle, chin straps must be available) Steel-toe (or composite toe) safety boots- sturdy lugged soled footwear, capable of supporting ankle Hearing protection (when required by Risk Assessment or JSA) 11 /

12 More Basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Equipment Required to Enter WTG: Lanyard keeper Safety glasses with side shields- will be worn at all times in or on the WTG and when downtower outside the vehicle Gloves appropriate for climbing- cut resistant required for all work where there is a risk for a laceration Rescue/Escape System (Black Bag)- rope length must be greater than tower height Proper communication devices: Communication must work inside the tower (I.e. radios or cell phones) and must be a means for emergency communication back to other site office or emergency services. Fall Protection Equipment Requirements Only GE Energy issued or authorized fall arrest equipment may be used during tower or nacelle work Equipment may not be altered for any reason and will be inspected daily by the user Faulty equipment will not be used at any time Fall protection equipment which has sustained a fall or impact must be removed from service and will either be destroyed or turned over to EHS so recertification can be arranged 12 /

13 Pre-Climbing Considerations Qualified Person Requirements To climb the wind turbine generator (WTG), at least two qualified persons must be present. Qualifications consists of being Work at Height Qualified (GE tower Rescue Course) and First Aid/CPR qualified. 13 /

14 Pre-Climbing Considerations Tower Rescue/Escape System Placement For de-energized work (pad mount transformer isolated; no grid power)- the Tower Rescue/Escape System must be at the base of the tower or higher, and readily available For energized work- the Tower Rescue/Escape System must be at or above the level of where the work is being performed. For HOT WORK (welding, cutting)- the Tower Rescue/Escape System must be set up (rope should not be deployed from the bag until needed) and ready for use and system should be set up for hub deployment. When there are more than 4 persons up tower an additional Rescue/Escape System will be required 14 /

15 Uptower Considerations Hazard Awareness Personnel must be aware of and take precaution to guard against pinch points, crushing hazards, and rotating parts. Refer to the Safety Risk Assessment/ JSA for the job tasks being performed. 15 /

16 Uptower Considerations While working up tower Any garbage, trash, or bodily waste generated will be fully contained in an adequate container and lowered or carried from the WTG after work is complete; Nothing should be purposefully dropped from the WTG; When transferring parts or tools outside of the nacelle or the hub, parts or tools should be secured from falling, either by directly securing the item with a lanyard or by placing the part in a bag which is secured; Personnel Restrictions A maximum of two personnel can be tied off to the nacelle safety rail; A maximum of three personnel can simultaneously be outside the nacelle and hub; Specifically: Two people can be tied off to the nacelle safety rail and one person can be tied off to the hub safety rail; Only two people may simultaneously be on the nacelle roof. If a third person is present, he or she must be on the hub. If there will be a hub entry and the hub is energized, there will be a minimum of two qualified persons uptower. If two individuals are simultaneously in the hub, there must be a third qualified person uptower and present in the nacelle; 16 /

17 DO NOT OPERATE REMARKS: DO NOT OPERATE Uptower Considerations LOTO Requirements All hub entries require that EACH entrant hang their personal LOTO lock and tag on the hub rotor lock (the use of tags only, is not permitted). Some turbines may require the use of a Cable LOTO Device to allow proper LOTO of the rotor lock. SIGN NAME SEE OTHER SIDE PRINT NAME AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE REASON EQUIPMENT LOTO # DATE DANGER DANGER 17 /

18 g Employee Rescue Trent Mesa, Windfarm- Trent Mesa, TX Accident: Slip and Fall from Hub Description: GE team was performing an annual maintenance at Trent Mesa, Turbine 49, which required a hub entry. When EE was accessing the hub, he slipped causing a fall over the nose cone. Coworkers responded and pulled EE up to the nacelle with the tractel rescue device. Employee was medically evaluated and was returned to service. Injuries consisted of scrapes and bruises. RCA team to be assembled 08 October Date:10/7/2009 Deployed Shockpack Stitching maintained after shock. Tractel unit applied to new lanyard style 18 /