About the Seminar

Deepen your understanding of the environmental, health and safety issues facing workers in the wind industry. Expert wind energy technicians and engineers, and occupational environmental, health, and safety professionals share best practices to tackle today’s wind business challenges.


Session Highlights



  • Welcome & Opening Session: Safety Behavior

  • Technician Availability, Training, and Safety

  • Wind Energy and the Human Factor

  • Technology is the Future for Wind

  • Rigging

  • OSHA Open Forum

  • Internal Hoists & Cranes

  • Wind Energy and the Public

  • Dropped Tool Prevention


 

More For Your Money

AWEA Has Listened1. Become an AWEA Member and always receive the lowest pricing for all AWEA events – and since pricing for 2013 events have been reduced, members enjoy even GREATER discounts!
2. Get 20% off your second and/or third event when you register for one at full price!

Learn More

Who Should Attend?

  • Safety Professionals

  • Risk Managers

  • Engineers

  • Corporate Executives

  • Directors

  • Operators

  • Human Resource Professionals

  • Wind Technicians

  • Project Managers

  • Managers

  • Construction Managers

  • Federal, State or Local Government Officials

  • Educator and Trainers

Attend this Seminar to:

  • Learn new and emerging issues impacting the human body, electrical safety, and updates from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

  • Get tools, tips, and strategies for managing your environmental, health and safety strategy

  • Explore safety’s best practices – lockout / tagout, confined spaces, managing your safety program, site logistics/security from industry professionals

  • Create a culture of safety through behavior-based safety and health programs in the wind industry

  • Attend committee side meetings, including the Safety Committee and subcommittees, and the Workforce Development

  • Education and Training Committee and subcommittees

Tera-Watt Sponsors

DNV  

Giga-Watt Sponsors

NRG Systems  

Mega-Watt Sponsors

Shermco Industries  

 

 

Media Partners

 

enerG       WindpowerEngDev

WindSystems LogoNAWPLogo

 

 

 

Other January Events

 

Register Now for AWEA West Summit

 

Register Now for AWEA POMR Seminar

Registration

Registration is now closed!


However, you may register on-site at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines on Wednesday, January 16th at 7:00 am.


Click here to download a PDF list of companies attending the 2013 seminar!


Registration Prices

All prices quoted are per person

Registration Type

Early Bird Discount by December 5

   Regular by
   January 11

Onsite After
January 11

AWEA Business Member

$479

   $529

$579

AWEA Advocate

$649

   $699

$749

Non-Member

$649

   $699

$749

Government Agency

$399

   $449

$499

Full-Time Student or Faculty

$275

   $325

$375

Non-Profit*

$399

   $449

$499

Seminar Speaker or Moderator

$150

   $150

$150

Special Offer!  Register for the AWEA Wind Environmental Health & Safety Seminar and receive a discount code for 20% off the registration fee for the co-located AWEA Regional Wind Energy Summit - West on January 14 at the same hotel or the AWEA Wind Project Operations, Maintenance & Reliability Seminar taking place on January 15 - 16 at the same hotel.  (This offer is good for any registrant paying the member or non-member registration fee; government, academic, non-profit, and presenter registrants are not eligible for this discount.  The discount code is provided in your registration confirmation email.)  Click here to learn more!

* Non-Profit registrations require pre-approval by AWEA. See below for a description of the type of organizations that meet our non-profit pricing requirement and contact conference@awea.org for details.

 

For registration questions or general event inquiries, contact conference@awea.org or

(202) 383-2512.

If you are unsure of your AWEA membership status, contact membership@awea.org or

(202) 383-2550. 

If you are interesting in exhibiting, contact exhibition@awea.org or (202) 383-2514.


 

Special Attendee Types

Government Agency: A full-time employee of a U.S. or international government agency (federal, state, local or tribal). Government-supported universities or colleges, government contractors, and government consultants do not qualify. Economic development organizations should register under the Government category.

Full-Time Student or Faculty: To qualify for the Student/Faculty registration rate you must be a current full-time student or faculty member at an educational institution. You must bring your institution ID to registration to verify your status.


Speaker: Registration for confirmed speakers and moderators in the seminar (limit 1 per presentation). Speaker/Moderator status will be verified.


Non-Profit Wind Power / Clean Energy Advocacy Groups: Discounted registrations are available to certain non-profit wind power / clean energy organizations that receive pre-approval by AWEA. This category is intended for specific wind power / clean energy advocacy groups as well as qualified environmental or energy related non-profits such as the Sierra Club, Energy Foundation or World Wildlife Fund among others. All 501c3 organizations will not necessarily qualify for the non-profit registration rate. Economic development organizations do not qualify for the non-profit registration rate and instead should register under the government registration category. Email conference@awea.org with your full contact information and a brief description of your non-profit organization including a link to your organization website to request non-profit approval.

  

Media / Press: Complimentary press registrations are available to those that meet AWEA's media accreditation guidelines. To request a complimentary press pass contact presspass@awea.org.

 

 

Registration Policies

Seminar registration includes: a networking reception, continental breakfasts, lunches, access to the speaker presentations, plus invaluable education from experts in the wind energy community and critical networking opportunities.


Confirmation & Changes: Registration confirmations are emailed automatically upon registering on-line or upon manual entry of registrations sent via mail or fax. If you have changes to your registration including contact information, purchasing additional items to your registration such as a pre-conference seminar that is available to specific events, or if you need to provide a substitution for your registration, email conference@awea.org no later than Friday, January 11, 2013.  After this date, any changes or substitutions will need to be made on-site at the event.


Cancellation Policy: All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted to AWEA in writing via email to conference@awea.org or fax to (202) 293-2567. Refunds may not be processed until after the completion of the seminar. All refund requests received by January 7, 2013 will be processed less a $100 administrative fee. There will be no refunds made for cancellations after January 7, 2013 or for no-shows and registration fees may not be transferred to a different AWEA event. However substitutions are permitted for no charge. Email information on substitutions to conference@awea.org. Any refunds to credit card payments may only be credited back to the original credit card and cannot be refunded to a different card.


Other: AWEA reserves the right to eject any registrant from the event without any prior notice or refund if while at the event your behavior is deemed disruptive, offensive, dangerous, and illegal or if they are found to be distributing unauthorized material.

This event is proceeding as planned unless the event organizer, the venue, and/or local or national authorities deem it to be unsafe to do so at which time we will update this website with more information.

 

Tera-Watt Sponsors

DNV  

Giga-Watt Sponsors

NRG Systems  

Mega-Watt Sponsors

Shermco Industries  

Agenda

 

Wednesday, January 16th
7:00 AM  
Registration Opens
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM  
Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM  
Welcome & Opening Session: Safety Behavior

Session Chair: Rob Edinger, Director, Environmental, Health and Safety, Goldwind USA, Inc.

Facilitator: Grayling Vander Velde, Principal Safety Specialist, NextEra Energy

 

Why do people do what they do? How do you get them to do what you want them to do? This session will explore how to improve your employee's safety behaviors which will increase their productivity and reduce injuries by creating a positive safety culture in your organization. Speakers will examine the common causes; how to identify, quantify and examine behaviors that may be increasing your employee’s risk of injury in the wind industry.


Speakers:

•    Richard Fairfax, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor, Occupational      Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

•    Joe Hecker, Behavioral Safety Consultant/Leadership Development,      Duke Energy
•    Dr. Larry Wylie, Senior PGD Safety Specialist, NextEra Energy
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM  
Networking Break & Exhibits
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM  
Technician Availability, Training and Safety - Do Your People Have the Right Skills?

Session Chair & Facilitator: Peter Wells, Chief Executive Officer, UpWind Solutions

 

Are you familiar with the professional background of your team? Whether you are out in the field or in the office, do your operations, maintenance and safety teams have what they need to perform their jobs? The rapid growth of the wind energy industry over the years has created a mature, experienced workforce, but how will you prepare for the new generation of workers expected to enter the operations and maintenance sectors? Panelists will examine and discuss the industry’s needs in maintaining current fleets and the development and training of new technicians as attendees from the Wind Environmental, Health & Safety Seminar will join with attendees of the Wind Project Operations, Maintenance & Reliability Seminar for this joint session.  Attendees will also gain insight from OSHA as they discuss the industry alliance and how you can help educate OSHA about your work environments.

 

 

Speakers:

•   Charles Clayton, Training Manager, Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation

•   Thomas Bielema, Area Director, Peoria, Region V, Occupational Safety      and Health Administration (OSHA) 
•   John Lamorie, Program Director, Wind Energy Technology, Laramie       County Community College
•   Gary Lee, Health and Safety Manager, EDP Renewables
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM  
Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM  
Wind Energy and the Human Factor

Session Chair & Facilitator: Grayling Vander Velde, Principal Safety Specialist, NextEra Energy

 

Workers are our most valuable resource, so how do you protect your workers and maximize the potential of your company's employees? Wind turbine technicians perform physically demanding and often repetitive tasks, which impact the human body. This session will explore how to improve your employee's productivity and quality of work by creating programs that have a positive impact on body positions and body mechanics as it relates to employee task performance. Speakers will examine the common root causes; how to identify, quantify and examine risks; and risk reduction as experienced both inside and outside the wind industry.

 

Speakers:


•    Joe Reisinger, Vice President, Product Management, Broadwind      Energy

•    Ben Browne, PGD Wind Senior Safety Specialist, NextEra Energy
•    Christopher Nolan, Manager, Sustainability - HSE, Vestas Wind      Systems

•    Oskar Villalobos, Health, Safety and Environmental - North America      West Regional Specialist, Vestas Wind Systems
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM  
Networking Break & Exhibits
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM  
Technology is the Future for Wind

Session Chair: Rob Edinger, Director, Environmental, Health and Safety, Goldwind USA, Inc.

 

Technology has had an incredible impact on today’s workplaces. From bar code scanners to smart tablets, the industry is embracing technology and making tasks easier, quicker and safer while still complying with OSHA's requirements. This session will demonstrate how technology may have a place in the wind industry's Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) programs. Attendees will leave with the necessary tips and tools to successfully implement technology measures to make the LOTO process quicker and safer by eliminating the need to raise and lower lockboxes and reducing the number of climbs.

 

Speakers:

•    Carlos Diaz, Director, Health & Safety, Edison Mission Energy
•    Oliver Hirschfelder, Global Wind Energy Director, Capital Safety
4:15 PM - 5:45 PM  

Rigging for Success

Session Chair: Chris Lau, Vice President, Windmill Construction, OlsenBeal

 

Rigging loads at a wind project is a difficult activity, and improper handling can result in the loss of property, limbs, and worse – life. Attendees will hear a first-hand account of a fatal 1992 rigging accident, and learn the unfortunate, and preventable, circumstances that led to his death. This session will help you identify what is required to safely and successfully handle materials during rigging, as well as other construction and maintenance operations. Delve into the latest regulatory and industry updates, as well as recent technological developments in the crane and rigging industry.

 

Speakers:

•    Mike Gelskey, Vice President & General Manager, Lift-it Manufacturing 
5:45 PM - 6:45 PM  
Networking Reception

Exchange notes with your colleagues, relax and decompress with your wind industry peers as you enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres and drinks.
 

 

Thursday, January 17th
7:30 AM  
Registration Opens
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM  
Networking Breakfast
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM  
OSHA Open Forum

Facilitator: Gary Lee, Health and Safety Manager, EDP Renewables

 

Hear from OSHA representatives on the latest OSHA regulatory and compliance activity impacting the wind energy industry. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the OSHA representatives on issues that impact their work sites.

 

Speakers:

•    Thomas Bielema, Area Director, Peoria, Region V, Occupational Safety      and Health Administration (OSHA) 

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM  
Networking Break
10: 00 AM - 11:30 AM  
Concurrent Sessions

Cranes Used In Towers and Nacelles

Facilitator:  Michael Kelley, Director, Environmental, Health & Safety, UpWind Solutions

 

Often overlooked, the maintenance of important tools, including hoists and cranes, is becoming a growing concern among wind turbine owners and operators. Learn about hoists and cranes and their role in towers and nacelles and assess how to employ proper operation and preventative maintenance techniques. Attendees will distinguish which regulations and standards apply to their operations, and what requirements exist for operating, inspecting, and maintaining these tools.

 

Speakers:

•    Bret Lussow, Business      Development Manager,      Harrington Hoists, Inc. 

•    Chris Hess, Manager of      Engineering, Harrington Hoists,      Inc. 

•    John Chamberlin, Safety      Specialist, Siemens Wind Power

  

Risk Assessment for Public Safety

Facilitator: Carlos Diaz, Director, Health & Safety, Edison Mission Energy

 

Community safety is of paramount importance to wind generating facilities. Risk assessment of all significant public exposure should be conducted and plans to reduce / eliminate the exposure must be developed. This session will assist each operator in developing a comprehensive list of all public exposures related to wind turbines. Attendees will devise procedures to perform site assessments in the crucial effort to protect the surrounding community. 

 

Speakers:

•    Bruce Hamilton, Director,      Energy, Navigant Consulting, Inc.

•    Gary LeMoine, Director,      Environmental, Health, Safety,      Security, Iberdrola Renewables

  

 

 
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM  
Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM  
Concurrent Sessions

Dropped Tool Prevention

Session Chair: Duey Johnson, Manager, Environment, Health & Safety, Field Support, Duke Energy

 

Stop the Drop – How to keep your tools from dropping and mitigate the impact on employees if they do drop. When a tool drops there are two potential impacts: the person below may get hurt, or there will be a loss of productivity while the tool is retrieved. This session will explore how to keep the tools in your employee's hands, making them more productive and reducing the potential for injury. You will also formulate ways to reduce the impact on employees if a tool or piece of equipment does drop. Speakers will examine the common root causes and describe how to identify area of risk.  Attendees will identify the current tools and programs available inside and outside the wind industry.


Speakers:

•    Bryce Merrick, President, Tuff      Bucket, Inc.
•    John Salentine, Vice President,      Sales and Marketing, Gear      Keepers

  

The Role of E in EHS

Session Chair: Jeffrey Wolf, Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator, E. ON Climate and Renewables NA

 

When it comes to the E in EHS, many EHS professionals are not sure what applies and where. This session will discuss the overlap of the environmental requirements with a typical EHS role. Topics will range from Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans, to waste management, to the new Globally Harmonized System. Experts will demonstrate how to successfully implement these environmental practices on your own sites.

 

Speakers:

•    Jenifer Lee, Managing Director,      Technical Services, Edison      Mission Energy

•    Gemma Smith, Environmental      Health & Safety Coordinator,      Pattern Energy

 

 

 

 
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM  
Networking Break & Exhibits
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM  
Concurrent Sessions

Safe Bolting: Principles and Practices

Session Chair: Michael Kelley, Director, Environmental, Health & Safety, UpWind Solutions

 

During this session, attendees will learn about what activities and processes can be established to reduce the risk of injury and damage while performing bolting and torqueing tasks during the maintenance of wind turbine generators. Understand the importance of training and what kinds of training are available in the wind industry for such activities. Learn about how to develop your own safe bolting and torqueing procedures to ensure the safety of workers.

 

Speakers:

•    David Lay, Director, Training,      Hytorc

  

Arc Flash

Session Chair: Lisa Harding, Safety Coordinator, Terra-Gen

 

Arc Flash/Blast has presented various challenges for the wind industry. Expert speakers discuss the hazards associated with arc flash/blast, and derive solutions to reduce the problems, including engineering and administrative controls, and work procedures. Review actual wind farm studies and data, and learn how to create and implement a viable plan to eliminate related issues.

 

Speakers:

•    John Kolak, Arc Flash      Specialist, PraXis Corp
•    Jim Tyler, Specialist,      Sustainability, Vestas Wind      Systems



 

 

 

Tera-Watt Sponsors

DNV  

Giga-Watt Sponsors

NRG Systems  

Mega-Watt Sponsors

Shermco Industries  

Housing Information


 

Location

Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
10950 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037

AWEA Rate

$165.00 (single and double occupancy)
Plus applicable taxes

Reservations

858-558-1500
(Indicate you are with the American Wind Energy Association)
or Click here to reserve your hotel room on-line

Deadline

A limited number of discounted rooms have been arranged for seminar attendees. The discounted rate will be available while group rooms remain until December 31, 2012. Once the discounted rooms are sold out or after December 31 (whichever comes first), the hotel may continue to accept reservations at the discounted rate on a space-available basis; however, they could be at a higher prevailing room rate.

Hotel Contact Info

Hotel Phone: 858-558-1500
Hotel Fax: 858-458-6662


Hotel Accommodations


Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines is located in San Diego within the exclusive resort community of La Jolla, on the 18th fairway of the championship Torrey Pines Golf Course (site of the 2008 U.S. Open). The resort has a horizon view of the Pacific Ocean.

Click here for more information about the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines.

  

Hilton La Jolla 

Hilton La Jolla Sleeping Room



Travel Information

The information and pricing listed below is provided as a service by AWEA but is subject to change.

Closest Airport:

The San Diego International-Lindbergh airport (SAN) is approximately 15 miles from the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines.


For more information on the San- Diego International –Lindbergh airport, please visit http://www.san.org/  


Taxi: 
There are multiple taxi companies that service the San Diego International-Lindbergh airport. Simply follow the signs leading to the Transportation Plazas. A taxi to the hotel will cost approximately $45. Please contact the Operators directly to determine the cost of transportation and for the specific area serviced.  http://www.san.org/sdia/transportation/cabs.aspx 

Airport Shuttle: 
EZ Ride Shuttle is San Diego's premiere door-to-door shuttle service. Providing professional airport shuttle and group transportation services Fare is approximately $18 per person each way. For more information on the EZ Ride please contact 800.777.0585. Shuttle services are available at the Transportation Plazas across from Terminals 1 and 2, and curbside at the Commuter Terminal.

 

Driving Directions:

From the San Diego International-Lindbergh Field Airport (15 miles)
Keep left toward N Harbor Dr (0.4 mi.) Turn left onto N Harbor Dr (1.1 mi.)Turn left onto W Laurel St (0.4 mi.)Turn left onto India St (0.9 mi.)Take ramp left and follow signs for I-5 North (11.2 mi.) At exit 29, take ramp right and follow signs for Genesee Ave (0.2 mi.)Turn left onto Genesee Ave (0.9 mi.)Bear right onto N Torrey Pines Rd (0.9 mi.) Take ramp right (0.2 mi.)Bear right onto Callan Rd (0.0 mi. Take ramp left for N Torrey Pines Rd (0.2 mi.) Arrive at N Torrey Pines Rd. Hotel is on your left.

Parking:

Overnight valet parking: $27 per night

Self-parking: $22 per day (In/Out privileges available.)


Internet:

Wired per day rate $13.95

Wireless per day rate $15.95

 

Tera-Watt Sponsors

DNV  

Giga-Watt Sponsors

NRG Systems  

Mega-Watt Sponsors

Shermco Industries  

Increase Brand Recognition, Promote Your Company

The AWEA Wind Environmental Health & Safety Seminar features a wide variety of exhibiting companies, representing the many products and services that are vital to project developers, owners, and operators. Throughout the seminar, particularly during session breaks, breakfast, and the reception, attendees are encouraged to stop by the exhibit area to learn more about these companies.

 

Current Exhibitors:

 

 

Exhibit space is sold out for this event, but sponsorship opportunities are still available.

 

Sponsorships

Sponsoring an AWEA Seminars generate the type of exposure you are looking for in an effective marketing program. Reach your target audience, promote your company and product, and leave a lasting impression. There are numerous levels of sponsorships available with AWEA, from single item sponsorships to large-scale, multi-event sponsorships. There are many excellent sponsorship opportunities available for all AWEA events; please contact Brandon Kopp at 202-383-2514, or email exhibition@awea.org for details.

 

Tera-Watt Sponsors

DNV  

Giga-Watt Sponsors

NRG Systems  

Mega-Watt Sponsors

Shermco Industries  

Networking

Bring a full box of business cards to the AWEA Wind Environmental Health & Safety Seminar because there's no better place to network and expand your business contacts than AWEA events. In addition to learning strategies on how best to manage wind projects’ assets to maximize the bottom line, you will leave this event with wind industry connections you can’t get anywhere else. We will post the networking activities and tools you can use to make the most of your attendance on this page so check back soon.

Tera-Watt Sponsors

DNV  

Giga-Watt Sponsors

NRG Systems  

Mega-Watt Sponsors

Shermco Industries  

Committee Meetings

Side Meetings During the AWEA Wind Environmental Health & Safety Seminar

(As of 11/9/12)


AWEA Operations and Maintenance Safety Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Room: Fairway I
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA Confined Spaces Safety Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Room: Fairway II
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA Alliance Safety Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Room: Fairway III
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA Offshore Safety Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Room: Hospitality Suite 1059
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA Construction Safety Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Room: Hospitality Suite 1102
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA Training and Education Safety Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Room: Hospitality Suite 1059
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA LOTO Safety Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Room: Hospitality Suite 1102
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA Owners Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Room: Fairway I
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA OEMs Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Room: Fairway II
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA Third Party/ISP Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Room: Fairway III
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org


AWEA Safety Committee Meeting
Tuesday, January 15
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Room: Fairway
RSVP: mmihelic@awea.org

 

 

Tera-Watt Sponsors

DNV  

Giga-Watt Sponsors

NRG Systems  

Mega-Watt Sponsors

Shermco Industries