Lawani, K; Hare, B and Cameron, I (2014) Wind turbine rescue: Emerging skill retention issues and challenges. In: Raiden, A and Aboagye-Nimo, E (eds.) Proceedings of 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK.
Abstract
The wind energy sector is becoming an increasingly important one for those involved in construction and with the increasing number of technicians employed in the industry, issues of occupational health and safety becomes of paramount interest. This paper explores the occupational health and safety challenges in the wind energy industry in relation to wind techniciansÕ safe and competent use of a rescue and evacuation device in emergency situations whilst working at height. The study reported here evaluated the magnitude of procedural skill and knowledge retention over a three-month period after acquisition; the significant factors influencing procedural skill retention during safe rescue and evacuation; and the impact of cued recognition/recall methods on skill retention. Thirty trainees fully participated in the retention study at intervals of 28 and 90 days. The results suggest that refresher participants should undertake rescue and evacuation practice drills between three and six months after acquisition while fresher participants should undergo practice drills within the first three months. The contributing factors influencing the techniciansÕ procedural rate of retention are the length of time after acquisition and practice, experience, feedback and it is advisable that cues be embedded within the training because with fundamental cues, there is increased retention of procedural tasks. This has implications for the wider construction industry where work at height in harness are carried out in isolated places.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | competency; rescue and evacuation; refresher and fresher; cued recognition/recall |
| Index terms: | becoming, energy industry, retention, acquisition, occupational health and safety, energy sector, construction industry |
| Subjects: | occupational health and safety management, philosophical process, industry analysis, management, business |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here