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Health & Safety

Wind Turbines Safe System of Work

The BWEA Wind Turbine Safety Rules (WTSR) have been developed by wind farm owners and operators to formalise a safe system of work for operational wind turbines (onshore and offshore). The WTSR procedures should be followed in order that persons working on wind turbines are safeguarded from the inherent dangers from the installed electrical and mechanical equipment.

A typical Wind Farm consists of two distinct systems:

  • The High Voltage (HV) infrastructure
  • The Wind Turbine, its plant with their associated (LV) infrastructure

The boundary between these two systems is clearly defined in the Wind Turbine Safety Rules as shown in the diagram below.

Diagram illustrating Wind Turbine Safety Rules

It is intended that the WTSR become mandatory. The WTSR have been operational since late 2005 with a variety of owners and OEMs covering more than 50 wind farms. There is wide-scale buy-in, including positive feedback from site technicians.

To be authorised to work on the equipment, persons have a duty to become thoroughly familiar with the WTSR and with appropriate statutory requirements.

The BWEA Training Standards Group is developing an Electrical Safety Course covering the WTSR providing a common industry approach.

Wind turbine safety rules documentation

The wind turbine safety rules documentation is now available.