In this month’s wind energy section we carry an extensive preview of ESTA’s Experts’ Summit: Safety issues in wind turbine installation and transportation, taking place in Hamburg on March 14.

Cranes Today is delighted to see an organisation with ESTA’s level of expertise and experience organising an independent event like this. ESTA is the European association representing national trade associations for lifting and special transport. Its cranes group includes managers of some of Europe’s leading rental companies, representing their peers in local associations, along with expert engineers from leading manufacturers. As such, it is probably the leading organisation for the European crane industry.

At the summit, speakers will include ESTA’s highly-regarded secretary general, Søren Jansen, crane owners such as Mediaco’s Christian-Jacques Vernazza and Mammoet’s Sander Splinter, expert engineers like Liebherr’s Hans-Dieter Willim and Terex’s Klaus Meissner, alongside analysts, insurers and customers. The event is being supported by Terex, Liebherr, and Manitowoc.

As detailed on p31, this event will give a detailed overview of safety and trends in the wind turbine industry. Cranes Today recommends it to any crane owner or manager working in the European wind turbine industry (tickets can be purchased directly from ESTA at esta-eu.org/esta’sexperts-summit).

While the event addresses many issues for crane owners and lift planners, it raises an important question about how the sort of information shared at an event like this can reach crane operators and lifting crews on the ground.

Liebherr’s Willim says that often, “They cannot do [wind loading] calculation with the charts. When they go into the diagrams, for the average crane operator it’s very difficult to read out the allowable wind speed for this wind area.” He explains that side-loading on the boom can also mean that information from a rated capacity limiter cannot be the only measure of whether a lift is safe.

As with all lifts, the final decision should rest with the operator, but they must be given the support to make that decision proficiently. The additional complexity of these lifts, and extra risks they present, should be clearly communicated.

Just as on oil and gas sites, crane owners and users on wind farms should prepare meticulously detailed lift plans and safe working methods, offer proper pre-job training and tool box talks, and ensure that all relevant safety issues have been understood by everyone on site.