Wind Today - Q1 2009 - (Page 50)

T echnical AWEA Safety Committee Update This article is based on a presentation made by Gary LeMoine, CIH, CSP, director environment/health/safety/security, Iberdrola Renewables, Portland OR (503796-7736). LeMoine moderated the regulatory update panel during AWEA’s Health and Safety Workshop held October 29-30, 2008 in Denver, CO. In 2007, the U.S. wind industry added 5,244 MW of installed capacity for a cumulative total of 16,800 MW. By the end of 2008, that total exceeded 25,000 MW. Such rapid expansion creates safety challenges for both construction and maintenance operations at wind farms. Significant safety challenges for the U.S. wind industry include: • Maintaining the health and safety of all persons related to the industry. • Supporting responsible and consistent regulatory compliance throughout the industry. • Providing health, safety, and environmental, plus technical skills and qualifications training to ensure a qualified, competent, and skilled workforce. • Laying the groundwork for the health and safety of a future U.S. wind-related work force which may represent 150,000 employees. Rapid expansion creates safety challenges for both construction and maintenance operations at wind farms. Safet ety AWEA Safety Committee In 2006, AWEA established a safety committee to promote more standardized health and safety preparedness throughout the wind industry. The committee represents the association before safety-related agencies and serves as liaison for AWEA members through counsel with other trade associations. The committee’s membership base, which numbers representatives of nearly 100 companies, includes major manufacturers, wind farm owners, and third-party providers. When the AWEA Safety Steering Committee learns—from its members or from outside counsel—of proposed regulations that would impact the wind industry, the committee meets to discuss the issues. Depending upon the proposals, the committee may solicit member input, determine an industry position, provide written comments, or testify. In July 2008, AWEA’s Safety Committee representatives testified before OSHA at public hearings regarding draft regulations for confined space in construction. This testimony was the first of its kind for the AWEA committee. (See article on page 52.) Other wind-related environmental, health and safety services (EHSS) issues the committee has identified include: • OSHA’s draft construction crane safety regulations which will revise current requirements in how they may apply to wind farms. • State copper theft laws. • Final Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rules. • Iowa service lift regulations being applied to wind turbines. The committee has also updated its draft for Wind O&M Programs for Consideration to Meet or Exceed Regulations. (See following page.) This serves as a guideline for wind farms to create formal O&M programs that will add process consistency, prevent accidents, and provide tools for emergency preparedness. Response No. 501 50 WIND TODA Y First Quarter 2009 http://www.malloyelectric.com http://www.malloyelectric.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Wind Today - Q1 2009

Wind Today - Q1 2009 Contents U.S. Installed Wind Energy Capacity Canada’s Installed Wind Energy Capacity Global Wind Energy Exceeds 120 Gigawatts Alta Mesa Wind Farm Severe Weather Preparation to Protect Wind Farm Personnel and Equipment Camp Grove Wind Farm Denise Bode Green Collar Jobs Forecast Robert Hornung The U.S. Financial Landscape and Its Impact on Asset Management WINDPOWER 2009 Conference & Exhibition O&M Strategies to Optimize Wind Farm Performance Update: Buffalo Gap AWEA Safety Committee Update AWEA Safety Committee Begins Wind Farm Safety Dialogue with OSHA $787 Billion Economic Stimulus Package Approved MMS Releases Final Environmental Impact Statement for Cape Wind Project Wind Energy for a New Era Wind Farm Construction Update A Look at Regional Entities Tribal Wind Development WT News: United States WT News: Canada WT News: Supplier Glossary Independent System Operators Wind Resource Maps Adarsh Mehta, GDF Suez Energy North America Josh Magee, Emerging Energy Research Nordic Windpower Imperial Crane Signal Wind Energy Stevenson Crane Ultieg Engineers Industry Progress: Canadian Wind Farms Completed & Under Construction U.S. Wind Farms Completed U.S. Wind Farms Under Construction Renewable Portfolio Standards and Initiatives Calendar Product Surveys Ad Index

Wind Today - Q1 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.