GE Wind Turbine Climbing Rules

and Rescue from Height

Wind Turbine Climbing Rules

This material has been prepared from our GE Wind
Turbine Climbing Rules and procedure.

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Wind Turbine Climbing Rules

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GE 1.5MW Technology
A single 1.5MW turbine

370

Can power 500 homes

Total weight is 155 Tons
Has blade sets that sweep the area of
*Based on 20-year lifetime
a football field
Tip speed = 200 MPH

250
Shipped as 9 components

Environmentally Sound
100MW Wind Farm*
Displacement of:
- 3 million tons of coal
- 1.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas
- 3.6 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
*Approximate dimensions

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Designed for
GEARBOX

Performance
Reliability

MAIN SHAFT
MAIN BEARING

SOFT BRAKE
SYSTEM

PITCH

CONTROL
BLADES

COUPLING

ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM

TOWER

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

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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 WTGs 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 WTGs 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.

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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 sites scope of authority
and must be approved by Regional or Pole Operations and EHS manager

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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 WTGs
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.

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Ice and Snow Limitations

Climbing is permitted in 1.5 WTGs 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

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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)

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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;

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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

LOTO #__________ DATE _______

________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
REMARKS: ______________

OPERATE
DO NOT

OPERATE
DO NOT

DANGER

DANGER

_____________________________
REASON ____________________
EQUIPMENT __________________

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g Employee Rescue Trent Mesa, Windfarm- Trent Mesa, TX

Accident: Slip and Fall from Hub

Date:10/7/2009

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

Deployed Shockpack
Stitching maintained after shock.

Tractel unit applied to new lanyard style

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