BSEE Staff Attends Wind Turbine Safety Training Workshop
08/28/2015
ELGIN, Ill. – Last week, two employees from BSEE’s Safety Inspection & Renewable Section (SIRES) joined staff from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and several wind industry companies at the Elgin training facility outside Chicago for some hands-on learning about wind turbine safety.
As the wind industry progresses toward the goal of developing operable offshore wind farms, BSEE is preparing for its role as an offshore renewable energy regulator. The visit was to assess the training curriculum needs for BSEE staff on offshore wind farms. Attending this training program created a valuable opportunity for communication with various technical experts, industry professionals, and manufacturers of related products. While there, John Cushing (SIRES Chief) spoke to attendees about offshore safety.
The trainees spent three days at the Elgin facility, which is home to North America’s only fully operational wind turbine dedicated to training. There they practiced climbing techniques, emergency self-rescue procedures, and ladder safety on the training turbine cover (nacelle) that houses the turbine’s generating components. They also received classroom instruction in the daily operations of a wind farm, construction safety, hoisting and rigging, electrical safety, confined space entry, prevention of dropped objects, hand injury, emergency response, and weather conditions.
John Cushing descends from the turbine nacelle in a self-rescue exercise.
John Cushing practices self-rescue techniques while hanging from the wind turbine hub assembly.
Simon Baughman performs ladder safety and rescue procedures.
Two people died and three others were injured in a car crash in South Haven Township in the early hours of August 29, 2015. 
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