CRE-MSD wind energy webinar series
This is the second webinar in a series of free wind energy webinars offered by CRE-MSD, in collaboration with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) and the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA). Renewable energy is the fastest growing energy source around the world. Consistent with global trends, wind energy has been the largest source of new electricity generation in Canada with an average annual installed capacity growth of 16 per cent over the past ten years. This growth has created a need for “green jobs” such as wind turbine technicians who are responsible for servicing and maintaining Canada’s fleet of wind turbines. Understanding the musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) hazards that these “green workers” face will assist in the development of processes to prevent injuries protecting this workforce.
Other webinars in this series
Green Ergonomics: Understanding MSD Hazard Exposures Within the Wind Energy Sector - May 28, 2020
Heat: Performance Impairment and Mitigation - August 19, 2020
In this webinar
This FREE webinar will provide insights into the work undertaken by the G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation and SafteyOn, the health and safety organisation for the Onshore wind sector, with a specific focus on the discussion of physical demands in the wind industry.
Both organisations provide leadership in health and safety (H&S) for the dynamic and innovative wind industry by ensuring transparency about the industry’s H&S performance, as well as by assisting industry stakeholders to see that key emerging risks are mitigated through co-operation and shared learning.
The webinar will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss the physical demands placed on service technicians, and in particular, the impact experience has when climbing ladders. Presenters will: introduce available industry good practice guidance including those regarding working at heights and manual handling (including torque and tensioning); discuss current research regarding the most physically demanding aspects of working as a service technician; and provide evidence that climbing experience can limit the exposure to poor technique and ultimately reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders.
About the presenters
Dr. Gemma Milligan is an Occupational Physiologist specialising in Physical Employment Standards. Gemma is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, UK working as a member of the world renowned Extreme Environments Laboratory under Prof. Mike Tipton. Her work focuses on determining and examining the physical capabilities required to work in demanding occupations, whilst ensuring individuals have the attributes to undertake these roles. This approach minimises the risk to the individual and ensures that physical selection is based on the requirement to do the job and not age or sex. Gemma works with a number of occupational groups including: the military, oil and gas industry, offshore wind and emergency services. To support this avenue of research Gemma also works as a Strength and Conditioning coach. Gemma’s research has been funded by industry partners including the; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Energy Institute, G+ Offshore Wind Health and Safety Association, Royal Air Force, Royal National Life Boat Institution, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Gemma has published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, presented over 30 conference abstracts and invited presentations and has been associated with approx. $1.5 million in funding to support her research.
Bea Hildenbrand, Manager Offshore Wind at the Energy Institute (EI) providing Secretariat for G+ (Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation) and SafetyOn (Onshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation) and as such working together with industry on their H&S work programme. She holds a MSc in Environmental Sciences and worked as research associate at the German Aerospace Centre in atmospheric research and climate modelling before she joined the EI in 2010 as Technical Manager - Environment and Health
Dr. Joseph O’Halloran is a Senior Lecturer in Human Movement Science at the University of Portsmouth, UK. He is a Biomechanist specialising in the coupling of biological systems. His current research interests are primarily focussed on the use of dynamical systems theory methods in the evaluation of the metabolic cost of movement patterns. His research also examines the stability and variability of the coupling of the locomotor and respiratory systems. He has also worked in the area of Occupational Biomechanics with the Graduate Entry Medical School in the University of Limerick, Ireland focusing on biomechanical analysis of spinal immobilisation during prehospital extrication from a car. This work focussed on the role of paramedics and fire fighters in minimising spine movement when extricating a stable patient. Joseph’s research has been externally funded by industry partners including the Energy Institute, G+ Offshore Wind Health and Safety Association, Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council, and the Falck Foundation.
Webinar Resources
Webinar recording (WebEx)
Password: Wind2020
For assistance, please contact Betina Butler at bbutler@uwaterloo.ca.
Disclaimer: CRE-MSD receives funding through a grant provided by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. The views expressed are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre nor of the Province of Ontario.