ENHANCING SAFETY PERFORMANCE THROUGH IMPROVED HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT IN WIND FARM OPERATIONS

Wind-farm operations involve multiple high-risk and safety-critical activities. Working at height, electrical maintenance, lifting operations, mechanical hazards, confined spaces, falling objects and remote working conditions can expose workers to serious injury or fatality. Improved Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment can significantly strengthen wind-farm safety performance when it is integrated with worker participation, task-based assessment, hierarchy of controls, JSA, PTW, LOTO, critical-control verification, emergency preparedness and continual improvement. The proposed framework provides a structured method for moving from reactive safety management toward proactive risk prevention. Its effectiveness can be evaluated using leading and lagging safety-performance indicators. Ultimately, successful implementation requires management commitment, competent workers, effective communication, reliable procedures and continuous monitoring. HIRA should therefore be treated as a dynamic safety-management process rather than a static document.

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