Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
•
Contains a material with the potential to engulf someone who enters the space
•
Has an internal configuration that might cause an entrant to be trapped or
asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor that slopes down-
ward and tapers to a smaller cross section
•
Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazards
If workers are expected to enter permit-required confined spaces, the employer must
develop a written permit space program and make it available to workers or their
representatives. The permit space program must detail the steps to be taken to make
the space safe for entry.
The configuration of all nacelles will classify them as confined spaces, and during
the maintenance activities inside the nacelles workers may be exposed to hazards
from electrical motors, gears, etc. Those hazards may classify a nacelle as a PRCS.
Technicians required to work in nacelles should make sure to perform air sampling
(such as for low oxygen levels or other hazardous gases) prior to entering a nacelle. It
is recommended that such technicians should always carry portable gas monitors in
their toolkits and make sure that they are maintained properly.
Fires
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Wind turbines may have fire hazards because of the electrical parts and the combus-
tible materials such as insulation or the material of construction used in the turbine
housing (nacelle) or lubricants involved in its operation. Wind energy employees
need to be trained about fire hazards at the worksite and about what to do in a fire
emergency. This plan should outline the assignments of key personnel in the event
of a fire and provide an evacuation plan for workers on the wind turbines. Where
employers require workers to use portable fire extinguishers, workers must be
trained in the general principle of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved
with incipient-stage fire fighting. Workers should be made aware that while fighting
initial fires toxic gases can be generated and oxygen can be depleted inside nacelles,
and they can be exposed to such gases or can be asphyxiated from lack of oxygen.
If the employer chooses to use a fixed extinguishing system inside nacelles, then
the freezing point of the extinguishing medium, the safety of workers (exposure
to toxic gases and depletion of oxygen), and emergency escape methods should be
taken into consideration. In addition to the fire extinguishing mechanism (whether
the use of fire extinguishers or a fire extinguishing system, or both), fire detection
systems and emergency alarm systems should be installed inside nacelles to give
an early warning to workers to escape. If such systems are installed, they must be
maintained in operable condition; see 29 CFR 1910.160(c) and 1910.165(d). Workers
should know exactly what to do and how to escape in a fire emergency. Wind tur-
bines should be provided with quick-escape descent devices for workers to escape in
the event of a fire or other emergency.
*
Adapted from OSHA's
Green Job Hazards: Wind Energy—Fires
,
http://www.osha.gov/dep/greenjobs/
