When it comes to working on massive machinery, safety should always be the top priority. Wind turbine technicians are exposed to potential safety hazards that can be avoided by the proper use of equipment, following safety measures, and going through training.
Are you interested in becoming a wind turbine technician? We offer a Wind Turbine Technician program that can help students gain the skills needed to install and service wind machinery.1 Graduates of the training program can feel prepared to pursue a career in the wind industry.
Read more to learn about wind turbine safety, like common safety hazards, required training and a wind safety checklist.
The Most Important Safety Rules for Working on a Wind Turbine
There are important factors to consider when working on wind turbines. Following all of these wind turbine safety rules can help prevent major and minor accidents from happening in the field.
1. Check on all the safety hazards: A risk assessment will help technicians spot the potential hazards associated with the work ahead. They’ll go through a checklist of all the risks such as moving parts, falls and the dangers of working with electricity. Once they determine all the possibilities, they can create a safety plan to have all the right equipment and protocols in place to mitigate risk.
2. Add fall protection measures: Falls on the job can be avoided. Fall protection equipment like harnesses, guardrails, safety nets and lanyards can help prevent accidents. Proper training on how everything should be installed and used is also extremely important. By having fall protection, wind technicians can continue to do their job more safely.
3. Follow safety procedures: It is best practice to regularly review safety procedures. Keep track of updates, identify risks, and participate in safety meetings to help identify hazards and protect technicians from potential injuries.
4. Create communication protocols: Working at higher altitudes on loud machines could cause issues when trying to communicate with fellow team members. Wind techs can benefit from having communication protocols like hand signals to prevent accidents that can be caused by miscommunication.
5. Establish emergency procedures: Emergencies can’t always be avoided, and that’s why knowing what to do next can help guide everyone to safety. Having an evacuation plan and knowing details on shutting down equipment and who to call in an emergency could be a lifesaver.
6. Have proper training and education: Understanding how wind turbines work and a wind technician’s role, and knowing safety regulations all come with training. Taking wind turbine courses can help equip aspiring technicians with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a career in this field.
Required Safety Equipment on a Wind Turbine
For wind turbine technicians and field service technicians, using personal protective equipment (PPE) is vital for safety. Wind turbine safety equipment includes:
- Helmets
- Safety glasses
- Respirators and masks
- Steel-toed boots
- Gloves and arm guards
- Harnesses and lanyards
- Headlamps
- Reflective vests
Common Wind Turbine Safety Hazards
Becoming a wind turbine technician can be exciting, especially if you enjoy being outdoors. Wind techs get to be around nature and don’t have to sit at a desk for long periods of time. With these benefits also come some risks. Just like with other industries, there are safety hazards to prepare for in order to help prevent accidents from happening.
Some safety hazards to be aware of are falling, confined spaces, electrocution and moving parts. It is standard to have rules and guidelines in place to make sure everyone performs their jobs safely and accurately. That’s why proper training before pursuing a wind technician career can be beneficial.
Inspection and Maintenance of Wind Turbine Safety Equipment
Safety is an important part of servicing wind turbines. There are mandatory inspections in place to make sure that the wind turbines are not only working effectively but are also safe to work on.
For every year a wind turbine is up and running, there is a list of requirements to fulfill to keep it up to code. This is the responsibility of the independent operator of the turbines. An independent operator, also known as an independent power producer, is the company or individual that owns and operates the wind farm.
The independent power producer is required to add safety measures such as winches, lifting and pulling equipment, security technology (which includes testing ladders and PPE), firefighting equipment, safety signs, surge protection and more.
Comprehensive Safety Training in Wind Technology
Because wind technology work poses potential hazards, strict safety and health protocols are necessary. Following OSHA wind tech safety standards is more than just a legal requirement.
More importantly, it’s an essential component of creating a safe workplace. Following these guidelines allows wind technicians to identify, prevent and manage job-related risks, reducing the likelihood of injuries and fatalities. Technical training based on industry-specific safety protocols helps ensure worker safety and operational efficiency in the renewable energy sector.
Students in the Wind Turbine Technology program at Universal Technical Institute learn how to avoid accidents and maintain operations across wind farms through the Energy Industry Fundamentals and Safety Compliance courses. These courses help aspiring techs develop a conscientiousness for safety, covering topics that include:
- High- and low-voltage electrical equipment operation.
- Specialized lifting and rigging techniques.
- Fire safety procedures.
- Lockout/tagout processes for equipment safety.
- Navigation within confined spaces.
- Hazardous material handling.
- Overview of critical safety issues within the wind technology sector.
Did you know? A wind turbine service technicians is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that between 2022 and 2032, the job outlook for these positions is projected to grow 45%.63
Start Training to Prepare for a Wind Technician Career
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H2: Campuses That Offer Wind Technician Training
- Canton, Michigan
- Houston, Texas
- Lisle, Illinois
- Rancho Cucamonga, California
