VIKING has launched self-contained life-saving equipment to provide a range of safety solutions to cover the risks facing wind turbine service technicians
The tower evacuation kit fits snugly into what is currently an unused space between the platform handrails and the tower’s outer wall. Housed in a PPE chest developed by JoBird, the evacuation kit includes VIKING YouSafe HighTide immersion suits with integrated harnesses and Skylotec MILAN descent devices.
Earlier this year, VIKING made a strong market impact with the launch of an all-in-one evacuation kit for technicians working at wind turbine nacelle level, once again featuring a special purpose storage unit from JoBird and Skylotec rescue devices.
“Now, we can offer evacuation solutions that deliver identical ISO-, SOLAS- and Class-approved life-saving equipment to protect wind turbine service technicians from the top to the bottom of the tower,” said Bettina Kjærgaard, global product manager, offshore wind, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment.
The latest product evolved out of a dialogue between VIKING and design engineers developing a new wind turbine installation, she added.
The result is an evacuation kit that is integrated with the tower lay-out and within easy reach of turbine service personnel. With clip hooks to attach to railings, 125m of rope and a speed regulating rescue descender, the integral solution is also suitable for lowering injured or unconscious personnel.
“Like many good ideas, the self-contained tower solution is creative and simple, and we have secured our first major contract already,” commented Kjærgaard. “Offshore wind is a growing sector which takes the risks faced by the technicians putting their lives at risk day in, day out very seriously. For highly-skilled offshore professionals, HQSE is a key indicator of employment standards."
