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HEALTH & SAFETY - COMPLIANCE
SPOT GEN3 GLOBAL SATELLITE GPS MESSENGER
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FindMeSPOT.com/WEN INDUSTRY GROWTH AND POTENTIAL
By the end of February 2017, the UK had approximately 7,250 operational wind turbines with a total capacity of over 14.6GW comprising 9.5GW onshore and 5.1GW offshore
All of the 21,000 plus blades fitted to these machines require detailed regular inspection and, in order to get good objective views of all parts of the blades, rope or platform access have been the mainstay of turbine inspections over the years. With offshore wind capacity set to increase rapidly, safe methods of inspection in the marine environment where cherry pickers are clearly not an option are crucial.
HEALTH & SAFETY
In 2015/16, the HSE reported that just over a quarter of all fatal injuries in the workplace were the result of a fall from height. Hazard mitigation, primarily avoiding putting personnel into high risk situations, should be the first priority when planning turbine inspections. Drones can be very quickly and safely manoeuvred into ideal vantage points to get the clearest possible view of blades
and other wind turbine components. A live HD video feed from the drone can typically be used by the pilot and a wind turbine inspector working together to direct and steer an inspection.
DETAILED INSPECTION
Continuing improvements in image resolution and camera stability mean that extremely detailed inspections can now be carried out. If rope or platform access is still required, drone-captured images can help to focus any further investigations, reducing maintenance personnel’s exposure to the risk of falling or requiring rescue and recovery. The development of GPS controlled flight planning that allow inspection paths to be accurately repeated time and time again, coupled with powerful image storage and analysis will further reduce the need to place personnel at risk.
CONSIDERATIONS
Of course the use of drones is not completely risk free, but the use of drone operators that are fully approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for commercial work will ensure that any risks associated with the flight are carefully considered and managed. As the need for offshore turbine inspections increases, drone operators will also increasingly need to demonstrate their ability to work in these demanding environments.
Hexcam
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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