Function
Health and safety inspections are a crucial activity to ensure the ongoing safe operation of wind farm infrastructure and systems, and to fulfil statutory obligations to inspect safety critical systems on a regular basis.
What it costs*
About £1 million per annum for a 1 GW wind farm.
Who supplies them
Suppliers include Bureau Veritas, DNV-GL, Sennen Tech, SGS and TÜV SÜD.
Key facts
Inspections of safety-critical devices and equipment including:
- Fall arrest systems
- Anchor points
- Davit cranes
- Turbine cranes
- Boat landing and ladders
- External gates and railings and floor gratings
- External evacuation and rescue equipment
- Fire fighting equipment and fire prevention equipment
- First aid supplies & equipment
- Pressure systems, and
- Navigation aids and aviation lighting.
Safety critical items are subject to a statutory inspection regime, where there are legal requirements including recommended inspection frequencies and method of inspection. Inspections are carried out by qualified personnel, either as part of the primary turbine maintenance works or by a team of independent inspectors. Inspection frequency will be six-monthly or annual, depending on the equipment. Drills of health and safety procedures are routine.
Most owners will train their own technicians for these roles as they are frequent but require minimal time. Where there is a requirement for periodic statutory inspections and certification, such as for fall arrest systems, independent certifiers will provide these services.
Owners will seek to perform inspections prior to other planned work being carried out in the summer months to minimise the likelihood of weather delays and ensure equipment remains certified for use.