A risk assessment tool for improving safety standards and emergency management in Italian onshore wind farms
The renewable energy sector has seen a rapid expansion in recent years and the number of green jobs is quickly increasing. The development of wind sector, associated with a strong focus on , has given importance to the assessment of new and emerging hazards and risks for ensuring adequate, safe and healthy working conditions. The main aim of this paper is to provide a tool for improving proactive safety standards in onshore wind farms. The emergency management was outlined integrating some pinpointed indicators identified by wind turbines owners and manufacturers in a simple and practical instrument (risk assessment tool) aimed to facilitate emergency responses in case of accidents. The idea was to develop a systematic pattern that allows the employers and those responsible for the plant prevention to better manage an emergency event based on a risk assessment in an onshore wind farm during the operation stage. Specifically, the tool was tested and used to classify the risk level for occupational safety in 56 Italian onshore wind farms. The results obtained provide an overview of the crucial factors for optimizing the emergency management process in onshore wind farms at national level.
Risk values are obtained for each indicator. This was achieved asking the experts to assign a specific risk factor defined “k” factor according to the risk level established (low-medium-high).Each indicator and each factor have been weighted individually and together in complex to determine how much each of them has the potential to make the difference in the emergencies management.The tool was tested and used to classify the risk level for occupational safety in 56 Italian onshore wind farms.
Mixed research (checking the international organizations’ standards for occupational health and safety management (i.e. ISO 45001and OHSAS 18001:2007, literature research; conducting site surveys; direct involvement of related organizations (ANEV – Italian Wind Energy Association), wind turbines owners and manufacturers).
Three macro areas are identified (Emergency Call/communication, Routes and emergency vehicles definition-wind farm classification, drive to site of accident), and 12 indicators have been selected for the 3 macro areas.
No clear information about the planning of the experiment.
Assessing the risks from all hazards on a site by site.Gathering and elaborating wind turbines owners and manufacturers indicators for improving emergency management.
What are the crucial factors for optimizing the emergency management process in onshore wind farms in Italy?
Incorporate knowledge on the risk factors contributing to incidents in onshore wind farms is necessary between policy makers and regulators.The tool is the work of experts with a specific knowledge of the issue, it should not be a limit to possible configurations of risk that can be found in operating a wind farm and it can be implemented.
The risk level of each farm was obtained. Besides, analyzing 56 cases it is possible to highlight which indicators are generally characterized by high risk. Key contribution is the relationship between the risks and their factors.The results obtained provide an overview of the crucial factors for optimizing the emergency management process in onshore wind farms at national level. The policy outcome: ANEV has signed a framework agreement with INAL, Italian government agency for the insurance against work-related injuries.
Overall aim: to provide a simple and practical tool for improving proactive safety standards in onshore wind farms. Objective: to develop a systematic pattern that allows the employers and those responsible for the plant prevention to better manage an emergency event based on a risk assessment in an onshore wind farm during the operation stage.
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