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Health & Safety

Best Practice Guidelines for Wind Farm Owners and Operators

To Ensure the Ongoing Integrity of your Turbines

As the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) enters its fourth decade and to coincide with its 4th annual Health & Safety conference on the 29 January 2008 the Association has decided to publish specific guidance on aspects of wind turbine integrity. This generic good industry practice should help minimise the risks of structural failures of turbines and ensure that the UK wind industry continues to have an excellent safety record. The guidance, contained in the following six points, focuses on areas where owners and operators are readily able to influence the condition of their machines. It will be incorporated into the next full revision of the BWEA Guidelines for Health & Safety in the Wind Energy Industry, due to be published on the web site, bwea.com, later in the year:-

  1. At all times adhere to the preventative maintenance activity as recommended by the original turbine manufacturer as a minimum (whether every 6 or 12 months and checks to be carried out on a less frequent basis);
  2. That any turbine manufacturer recommended modifications which could affect turbine integrity are carried out on all machines as soon as reasonably practical. Where routine maintenance is not carried out by the original equipment supplier it is suggested that the turbine manufacturer is contacted for confirmation that all appropriate modifications have been implemented.
  3. That turbine suppliers are contacted from time to time (but not less frequently than every year) to advise of any additional measures they now recommend, following experience from other turbines of the same model installed elsewhere, that should be carried out on your turbines to provide assurance of their continuing integrity.
  4. In the case of any turbines which were purchased second-hand, that prior to being rebuilt on your site, appropriate competent expertise was sought on the suitability of the turbine(s) for the site and that where appropriate new components which could affect turbine integrity e.g. foundation securing bolts, were used during the reassembly.
  5. If the operational conditions of any of your turbines have changed significantly during their operational lives e.g. machines being exposed to increased wind turbulence due to erection of significant sized buildings nearby or adjacent tree growth; that appropriate advice has been sought on the continued compatibility of the turbine(s) for those location(s).
  6. For any turbines approaching the end of their design lives and where operational lives are proposed to be extended, that appropriate technical assessments are carried out and new integrity certifications obtained beforehand from a recognised competent body.

Please note that the guidance set out above does not in any way provide assurance of compliance with owner's responsibilities under UK legislation such as the Health & Safety at Work Act, and the BWEA does not warrant its effectiveness in any way. However, the Association firmly believes that adherence to the guidance would be seen by turbine insurers (whether public liability or plant & business cover) and health & safety regulatory authorities, as prudent and appropriate expectations of responsible owners.

Any queries with regard to this guidance should be directed to the Head of Health & Safety at BWEA, Graeme Cooper, who can be contacted on graeme@bwea.com or 0207 689 1938.