Due to the existence of hazardous energies, workers in the wind industry face a very significant risk of injury. There are several types of hazardous energies in the Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) environment that can be dangerous for technicians. These include:
Mechanical hazards: These can arise from moving parts of the turbine such as blades, gears, and rotors. Technicians working on or near these moving parts can be at risk of injury from cuts, crushing, or entanglement.
Electrical hazards: The electrical components in a wind turbine can be extremely dangerous. Technicians can be at risk of electrocution from high-voltage power lines or components such as capacitors, transformers, or batteries.
Thermal hazards: Heat can be generated by electrical components and moving parts of the turbine, such as bearings and generators. Technicians can be at risk of burns or scalds from hot surfaces and fluids.
Chemical hazards: Certain chemicals used in the maintenance and operation of wind turbines can be hazardous to human health. These include lubricants, solvents, and cleaning agents.
The danger posed by these hazardous energies in the WTG environment is that they can cause serious injuries, including burns, electrocution, or even death. Therefore, it is crucial for technicians working in this environment to be properly trained, equipped with appropriate safety gear, and follow safety protocols to minimize the risk of injury or harm.
The need for Control of Hazardous Energies (CoHE) Training in the wind industry prompted the development of this standard, which is now industry practice. It was developed collaboratively by members of the Global Wind Organization (GWO) and is based on risk assessments, in-depth descriptions of job roles and tasks relevant to CoHE in the wind industry, and incident and accident statistics pertaining to the installation, commissioning, service, and maintenance of wind turbine generators and wind power plants.
