Installation of offshore wind farms: proposal of occupational safety guidelines
Offshore wind; occupational safety; occupational risks; guidelines.
The global demand for energy from renewable sources, due to the many benefits it offers to society, is an opportunity for Brazil due to its high generation potential. The country is a producer of energy from renewable sources, such as onshore wind power, and is planning to implement offshore wind power, which, due to its operation in an aquatic environment, requires operational care. Occupational safety in Brazil is committed to ensuring that activities are carried out with the elimination or minimization of risks. Since offshore wind farms are a new sector for Brazil, studies on occupational risks in the installation of these assets are necessary. The study aims to propose guidelines for the standardization of occupational safety measures in the installation process of offshore wind farms in Brazil. The research was developed in five stages: i) exploratory theoretical research related to the topics of occupational safety, regulations in the offshore environment, regulations in the onshore environment and regulations in the O&G segment; ii) in-depth theoretical research, through a systematic literature review on the topic; iii) structuring of standards and guidelines applied for the installation of onshore and offshore wind farms and in the O&G sector; iv) Case studies of occupational safety guidelines in the offshore wind sector in the United Kingdom and Denmark; and; v) structuring of the proposal of occupational safety guidelines for the development of activities in the installation of offshore wind farms in Brazil. The results highlight the importance of standardizing activities in this new segment in Brazil and governing them by specific standards, given the importance of maintaining safe environments and activities in view of the high risks of this sector.