The American Society of Safety Professionals has published the first U.S. industry consensus standard (ANSI/ASSP A10.21-2018) establishing minimum requirements for protecting workers involved in the construction and demolition of utility-scale, land-based wind turbines—a market that has grown from 23,900 megawatts in 2001 to nearly 540,000 megawatts in 2017, accounting for 4 percent of the world’s electricity production.
The standard calls for contractors to develop a site-specific plan that addresses safety concerns of working in a remote location, including lack of emergency response, unreliable communication networks, and environmental issues such as weather and wildlife. Contractors also must evaluate wind turbine hazards, such as unguarded moving parts and exposed electrical components. Additionally, the standard contains requirements for cranes and rigging used during the construction process, and identifies qualifications for crane operators, riggers and signal workers.
