Application of systems safety principles for O&M of floating offshore wind

Abstract

The offshore wind industry is growing rapidly and is also a high risk industry with unique safety challenges. As the industry grows, more research is needed to make sure it operates safely and provides a workplace in which all involved can go home free of injury. The adoption of floating wind turbines brings new hazards and increased complexity to offshore wind operations and maintenance. Floating wind operations will involve the development of new deepwater sites and require the adoption of new strategies such as floating to floating transfers and towing operations. As the complexity of offshore operations increases it is important that the understanding of the hazards involved are developed. Floating wind is a new branch of the offshore wind industry and as technologies and systems have yet to become established there is the opportunity to do things differently and embed safety improvements in the industry from the outset. This study has looked at the potential application of systems safety theories to floating wind operations and maintenance. The application of systems engineering to improve safety performance has been growing across many industries in recent years. Systems safety considers that safety is an emergent property of a complex system that is a result of many interacting factors. This study looks at how systems safety could be applied to the emerging floating wind industry to build safety into the industry at the earliest stages. This study reviewed the applications of systems safety across similar industries and the offshore wind industry. It then looks at existing hazards of floating wind that have already been identified in the literature and completed a systems theory hazard analysis of floating wind O&M activities. This involved the mapping of the safety control structure for floating wind operations and the identification of potential gaps between the safety controls and safety requirements. It then explores how systems safety processes could be applied to floating wind and makes recommendations for how these could be implemented to the emergent industry. The study found existing research of systems safety applied to the offshore wind industry is currently very limited. Its application has been successful in similar industries and there is potential for a systems safety approach to be used in the development of floating wind operations and maintenance. The systems theory hazard analysis can help identify potential systemic risks arising as a result of the interaction of multiple systems. It can be used to develop appropriate control structures to manage safety and could also be used for the identification of leading indicators to manage safety performance.