Common Risks found on Renewable Worksites
Recent headlines highlight the growing importance of biofuels in the UK, with developments such as IAG Cargo’s commitment to Sustainable Aviation Fuel and strong support for biofuel innovation from the UK government. This clearly indicates that biofuel is becoming a rapidly expanding sector.
In parallel, UK government statistics reveal a remarkable 715% increase in electricity generation from wind power between 2009 and 2020. In fact, the UK National Grid announced that 2020 was the “greenest year on record,” thanks to unprecedented levels of wind energy generation.
As a result, many contractors may soon find themselves working on biofuel or other renewable energy sites. However, it’s important to remember that despite these industries being associated with being “green” and “clean,” the safety risks on these worksites should not be overlooked. While it’s easy to assume that renewable energy plants are safer due to the lack of traditional risk factors, this assumption is both incorrect and potentially dangerous for any renewables project.
Fortunately, specialised hazardous area portable lighting and electrical equipment are available to manage these risks, along with expert guidance to ensure the right equipment is chosen for reliable, long-term performance.
Our experts highlight the typical risks found when working on renewable worksites and provide their product recommendations to address them.
Risks in the Wind Power Sector
As the wind power sector continues to grow, so does the importance of understanding the safety risks associated with working in confined spaces.
The US Department of Labor has classified confined space work in the wind energy sector as a specific “Green Job Hazard.” They have issued clear guidelines, reminding employers and workers that “some confined spaces have recognized hazards, such as low oxygen environments, which can pose a risk for asphyxiation, or accumulation of hazardous gases. These confined spaces are called permit-required confined spaces and require additional safety precautions.”
In the UK, a confined space is defined by the UK Health and Safety Executive as: “a place which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely), and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby (e.g. lack of oxygen)”.
It’s easy to see how working on a wind energy site could fall under this definition. However, it’s important to note that risks can also be present in many other types of work that people might not immediately associate with confined spaces.
A lack of air movement in a confined space can be extremely dangerous, as it can lead to:
- Oxygen deficiency in the atmosphere: An atmosphere with less than 19.5% oxygen is considered oxygen-deficient. Therefore, any environment with less than 20.8% oxygen should be avoided.
- Flammable atmospheres: These occur when oxygen in the air mixes with flammable gases, vapours, or dust in the right proportions. Each gas has its own flammable range. If an ignition source enters a confined space with a flammable atmosphere, it can cause an explosion.
- Toxic atmospheres: These can include fast-acting poisons or long-term carcinogens. As mentioned earlier, toxic atmospheres can exist due to products stored in a space, even after the product has been removed, as it may have been absorbed or left as residue.
These dangers are especially relevant to work like welding, cutting, brazing, painting, scraping and sandblasting in confined spaces. Special care should also be taken with vapours from substances such as cleaning solvents.
The lack of air movement in some areas of wind power facilities, along with additional risks from work activities, makes confined space hazards a serious concern. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure the use of proper ventilation and electrical equipment at all times.
Risks in the Biofuels Sector
As part of SA Equip’s commitment to keeping customers informed about avoidable risks on worksites and how to mitigate them, we previously highlighted some hazards found in biofuel facilities. In our earlier article, “Moving Safely Towards a New Energy Future”, we discussed how both large and small-scale facilities can face significant fire and explosion risks due to non-compliant electrical equipment in hazardous areas on-site.
Additionally, exposure to chemical processes in anaerobic digesters or confined spaces can lead to asphyxiation, potentially causing unconsciousness or suffocation if proper ventilation is not maintained.
Similar to those working in wind power production facilities, operatives in renewable energy plants may also encounter confined spaces. Given that some energy sources involve hazardous chemicals and gases during the production phase, it is crucial for workers to take the necessary precautions to prevent injury.
The safe working risks likely to be present in a biogas plant can be planned for during the project development stage, including:
- Fire and explosion risks
- Confined space hazards
- Risk of asphyxiation
- Risk of gas poisoning (e.g., H2S, NH3)
- Risk of high-pressure gas or liquid leaks
- Risks associated with rotating mechanical equipment
Similar to the wind power sector, providing clean air and safe, reliable power are both essential.
Energy Industry Safety
Ultimately, many wind power and biofuel worksites share one key requirement: the need for clean, safe air and reliable, secure power.
When it comes to confined spaces, it’s generally more effective to ventilate by pushing fresh air in rather than extracting air. Importantly, the larger the airflow of the ventilation device, the less time is needed to “secure” the confined space before it can be safely entered.
The key rules to providing sufficient airflow are:
- It is recommended to use a ventilator capable of circulating air 20 times the volume of the confined space per hour.
- It is recommended to ventilate the confined space with air 7.5 times the volume of the space before entering.
When pushing fresh air into a space:
- The air is pushed 30 times further than if it were being exhausted.
- This creates a consistent airstream throughout the entire confined space. When exhausting, some areas in the confined space may still contain polluted air.
- To avoid introducing polluted air, it’s crucial to ensure that the air being pushed into the confined space is clean.
- The ventilator should not be placed too close to the confined space, as it could simply push the polluted air back inside.
Equipping for Safety
To address the critical need for clean, safe air in the wind power and biofuels industries, our specialists have developed the SA CYCLONE range of hazardous area ventilation. This comprehensive range includes purpose-designed fans, ducting, filter units, couplers, and adaptors, all engineered to transform inhospitable, dangerous environments into safe workplaces. With their plug-and-play design, these systems enable rapid setup of a temporary ventilation solution wherever it’s needed.
Similarly, in hazardous area worksites within the wind power and biofuels industries, the demands for performance, portability, and safety placed on power supply equipment are just as high. A reliable starting point is the SA POWERNET EX Mains Distribution Unit – an ultra-robust portable solution offering sockets with 10 meters of input cable. Packed with safety specifications, it is perfectly suited for these environments, ensuring both power reliability and security.
It’s easy to overlook a simple yet powerful truth when selecting equipment for hazardous area work. Faster setup and removal, combined with exceptional reliability and performance, translates to less time spent in the hazardous area. This alone makes choosing equipment that meets meticulous standards an invaluable investment in both safety and efficiency.
ATEX Solutions
We’re much more than just a ‘supplier’. We partner with clients worldwide to achieve optimal lighting, heating, and ventilation results in even the most challenging environments.
Our in-house product development team is also equipped to create bespoke solutions tailored to your specific needs. Simply speak to a member of our team for expert guidance in choosing the right equipment for your next project.
