Assess working-at-height risks specific to turbine towers, nacelles and hubs.
Occupational Health & Safety
Wind Turbine and Solar Farm Safety for Construction and Maintenance Crews
Learn to manage height, confined space, electrical and rescue risks on wind turbines and solar farms, from GWO-aligned training needs to isolation procedures.
🗓️Duration5 training days
📚Content4 modules · 8 sessions
🎓On completionAccredited attendance certificate
About the programme
Course Overview
A rescue plan that has never been rehearsed is not a rescue plan once a technician is injured eighty metres up a turbine tower, and a solar site with live strings still carrying direct current after the inverter is switched off can catch an inexperienced installer by surprise. This course teaches technicians, site supervisors and health and safety advisers how to manage the specific hazards of wind turbine and solar farm work, from climbing and working at height inside the tower and nacelle to isolating electrical systems before maintenance begins. Participants cover confined space entry within the tower base and hub, manual handling of components during construction, and the training structure aligned to Global Wind Organisation modules for basic safety, working at height, manual handling, first aid and fire awareness. The course addresses lightning and blade-strike risk, arc flash hazards in switchgear, and the specific danger of residual voltage in photovoltaic strings even after isolation. Practical sessions include planning a nacelle rescue, sequencing a lockout for turbine maintenance, and assessing a ground-mount solar site for manual handling and electrical hazards. By the end, participants can plan and supervise work that keeps crews safe at height, in confined spaces and around live electrical systems.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Plan confined space entry procedures for turbine base chambers and hub access.
Sequence an electrical isolation and lockout procedure before turbine maintenance begins.
Identify residual electrical hazards in photovoltaic strings after inverter isolation.
Prepare a nacelle or hub rescue plan and confirm crew competence to execute it.
Apply Global Wind Organisation training modules to structure a crew's safety competence.
Evaluate manual handling and traffic risks specific to ground-mount solar farm construction.
Who Should Attend
Wind turbine technicians and site supervisors responsible for planning maintenance work.
Solar farm construction managers overseeing installation and electrical connection work.
Health and safety advisers new to renewable energy construction and maintenance sites.
Rescue team members responsible for height and confined space emergency response.
Electrical engineers working on turbine switchgear or photovoltaic string isolation.
Contractors bidding for wind or solar projects who must demonstrate safety competence.
Course Modules
Select any module to see its sessions and points.
01Working at Height and in Confined Spaces on Turbines
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Managing Climb and Access Risk
- Assess fall protection systems, including climb-assist devices and fixed anchor points, before ascent.
- Plan work sequencing inside the nacelle to limit time spent in restricted postures.
- Verify personal fall arrest equipment inspection records before a technician climbs the tower.
- Set weather limits for wind speed and lightning that stop climbing and external work.
Session 2Entering Confined Spaces Safely
- Classify turbine base chambers and hub interiors against confined space entry criteria.
- Test atmosphere and ventilation before permitting entry into an enclosed turbine section.
- Assign a trained attendant and communication method for any confined space entry.
- Plan an emergency extraction route before work begins inside a confined turbine space.
02Controlling Electrical Risk
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Isolating Turbines Before Maintenance
- Sequence a lockout procedure that isolates turbine rotor, yaw and electrical systems together.
- Verify isolation with a proving test before permitting hands-on maintenance work.
- Coordinate isolation with remote monitoring so the turbine cannot be restarted during work.
- Document isolation and permit-to-work status so a second team cannot override it unknowingly.
Session 2Managing Solar Array Electrical Hazards
- Identify residual direct current present in photovoltaic strings after inverter shutdown.
- Sequence string isolation and verification before touching connectors or junction boxes.
- Assess arc flash risk around inverters and switchgear before opening enclosures.
- Brief installers on rapid shutdown procedures specific to the array's design.
03Preparing for Emergencies and Rescue
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Planning Rescue From Height
- Design a nacelle and hub rescue plan matched to the turbine model and access route.
- Rehearse a descent rescue using equipment crews carry on every climb.
- Set communication protocols between a casualty, rescue team and ground control during an incident.
- Review rescue equipment inspection and competence records before authorising lone or paired climbs.
Session 2Responding to Site Emergencies
- Plan fire response for nacelle fires where conventional access and extraction are difficult.
- Coordinate emergency response with local services who may be unfamiliar with turbine access.
- Brief ground crews on their role during a height or confined space emergency.
- Debrief every drill or real incident to update the site emergency response plan.
04Structuring Training and Site Safety Management
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Aligning Training to Recognised Modules
- Map crew competence against Global Wind Organisation basic safety training modules.
- Verify working-at-height and manual handling certificates before assigning tasks on site.
- Plan refresher training intervals that match equipment changes and certificate expiry.
- Identify gaps in a crew's training profile before mobilising to a new turbine model.
Session 2Managing Ground-Level and Site-Wide Risks
- Assess manual handling risk for panel, cable and component movement on a solar site.
- Segregate vehicle and pedestrian routes across an active wind or solar construction site.
- Coordinate multiple contractors' work schedules to avoid conflicting tasks on the same turbine.
- Review site safety performance data to target inductions and toolbox talks effectively.
What the participant receives
4 course modules
A structured syllabus
8 training sessions
across 5 days
32 detailed points
Applied, detailed content
Accredited attendance certificate
On completing the programme
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