Wind Turbine Rescue Training

Wind turbine rescue can be divided into three basic types.

1. Wind Turbine Self Rescue: This type of wind turbine rescue is defined as an employee who is able to evacuate from the hazard area of the wind turbine to a place of safety without anyone else’s help. Doing this implies that the wind turbine worker is conscious and so can perform basic tasks such as attaching their harness to a self-rescue or descent device. These devices are anchored to the wind turbine structure. The worker then attaches the rope which passes through the rescue device, to their harness and they lower themselves over the side. The self-rescue/descent devices lowers the worker at a steady, safe pace. Once the worker has descended, another worker can often attach to the other end of the rope and perform an evacuation. These devices are simple, but like any piece of rescue equipment they do require practice. Most workers can be trained to use these devices in an hour or so.

2. Wind Turbine Simple Assisted Rescue: This type of wind turbine rescue is defined as bringing a worker to safety with the assistance of other another worker or workers who can perform the rescue from place of safety. An example would be a worker who has stumbled off the edge of the nacelle and is now dangling over the side and unable to climb back up. In this case, fellow workers can perform a simple, assisted rescue by attaching a mechanical advantage device to the fallen worker’s harness and then pulling the worker back into the nacelle. This type of rescue requires rescuers who are equipped with a simple 4:1 pulley system, connectors, and a means of attaching the system to the fallen worker’s d-ring using a rescue clip. These types of rescues require that the rescue equipment is readily available and workers have been trained to deploy and perform the rescue procedures. Most workers can be trained to perform these types in a few hours.

3. Wind Turbine Complex Assisted Rescue: This type of wind turbine rescue is defined as rescuers who, in order to bring a fallen worker to safety, must expose themselves to hazards and/or rig and operate technical rope rescue equipment in a wind turbine environment. These types of rescues require a higher level of training and several thousands of dollars in equipment. Rescuers who can perform at this level would be able to remove an unconscious patient from any location in the turbine (hub, blade, etc.) and lower the patient to a place of safety. When performing these types of rescues, safety comes first. Rescuers learn and follow specific safety procedures to ensure that all rescuers are protected. Complex rescue also require detailed pre-plans for each possible rescue. These pre-plans ensure that the rescuers have the skills, equipment, and knowledge to perform each task in the rescue pre-plan. A team leader is always designated to ensure that safety checks and scene size-ups and reassessments are performed as needed. Workers can be trained to perform these types of rescues in about three days.

Rescue teams that can perform complex assisted rescues can be said to be operating at an operations-level of capability. These teams can handle almost every technical rope rescue challenge on a wind turbine

The D2000 Operations Level Rescue Training courses are designed to develop this ability in your teams. Our training helps students build the basic skill sets for performing wind turbine rescues.

Our other Operations-Level Rescue Training Courses Include:

• Confined Space Rescue Training
• Fall Protection Rescue Training
• Tower Rescue Training
• Trench Rescue Training
• Wind Turbine Rescue Training

The Wind Turbine Rescue Training includes:

• Orientation—Basic fall protection and rescue fundamentals.
• Rescue Hazards—Size up and scene safety.
• Rescue Equipment—Carabiners, pulleys, ascenders, descenders; specialty equipment; rope/webbing; inspection/care.
• Knots and Hitches—Basic rescue systems, friction lowering systems, and mechanical advantage systems.
• Rescue Procedures—Pre-planning and rescue methods/decision factors.
• Practice Rescues—Hands on practices to prepare you for real world scenarios.

Our proven curriculum helps students gain knowledge and skills that will prepare them for the wind turbine rescue requirements at their work location. As they move through the course, they will gain confidence in their ability to perform the rescues that may be required.

Contact D2000 at 800.551.8763 for information about any of our safety or rescue courses.