Walbridge on Safety

Wind turbines reaching nearly 300 feet tall present many challenges to the workers who construct them. Wind farms are built in areas of high and sustained winds making construction difficult and dangerous. Walbridge recognized a need for high-angle rescue training for personnel on our growing number of wind turbine projects. Wind farms are typically located in rural areas with limited or no technical rescue support. These areas are supported by local volunteer fire departments that lack the experience, knowledge and equipment necessary to rescue someone from atop a wind turbine. To keep workers safe, Walbridge took the initiative to train personnel to perform high-angle rescues from wind turbines. The first training session was held at the Lempster Mountain Wind Farm in New Hampshire.

 
In this hands-on training, participants learned proper techniques for inspecting safety gear, assessing emergency situations and lowering someone from atop an under-construction wind turbine. Actual mock rescues were practiced by Walbridge from tower ladders using varying rescue equipment under multiple emergency scenarios. The training culminated with a mock rescue from a nacelle. The nacelle is located nearly 300 feet off of the ground at the top of wind turbine. It contains the gear box, low- and high-speed shafts, generator, controller and brake. Everyone who participated in the training was lowered from the nacelle using rescue ropes and equipment.
 
Walbridge believes that this training in conjunction with our newly formed high-angle rescue team gives us a competitive edge over other companies in the wind industry. Although Walbridge’s safety record on wind projects is outstanding, we are prepared and trained to meet and tackle the worst possible situation.