Dear readers of the vgbe energy journal,

The effects of the energy transition are clearly felt across all sectors of the energy industry. Requirements from both the political sphere and industry are driving profound changes designed to ensure a sustainable energy supply in the long term, not only in Germany but across Europe. This is accompanied by the expansion of renewable energies, the rapid growth of which presents numerous challenges. Increasingly complex technology, often combined with hard-to-reach locations, creates a demanding working environment that places the greatest strain on those who are tasked with implementing the energy transition and are at its very heart. It makes no difference where the energy is generated, whether on land or at sea.

Within this context, vgbe energy is increasingly focusing on developing new standards and updating existing ones in the field of occupational safety. The aim is to establish uniform rules and standards for the safe operation of power plants, thereby focusing on the core purpose of the technical association. The protection of human life is the top priority at every stage of the energy industry’s value chain.

Fundamentally, issues such as the rescue chain play a central role here. Operators are obliged to draw up suitable rescue plans to ensure the safety of workers in case of emergency. Depending on the workplace, ensuring medical care can involve considerable planning effort. In particular, when working on wind turbines, rescuing employees in emergencies is difficult due to the work being carried out at great heights and in confined spaces. In this context, the training of staff who work on wind turbines is also very important. Their qualifications must be continuously developed and ensured in order to keep pace with developments in the industry. Establishing minimum training standards for the entire industry is therefore essential.

However, occupational safety is undergoing a transformation not only due to the demands of the energy transition, but also as a result of the technological advancements of recent years. The use of drones and multicopters has become an increasingly important component of occupational safety. Drones enable inspections at power stations and wind turbines (onshore and offshore) that previously involved considerable risk. These risks can be reduced through the targeted use of unmanned systems. At the same time, the use of new technologies raises new questions that occupational safety must address.

The requirements for drone operation, such as the suitability of remote pilots and the necessary checks prior to operation, must be clearly regulated to ensure their safe use. It is also recommended that a standard for working with drones, in the form of drone operating procedures, be established.

All the topics mentioned here form part of vgbe energy’s committee work and will in future be addressed by the newly established WG Wind “Health & Safety”. This committee brings together experts specialising in occupational health & safety and environmental protection from operators, manufacturers, suppliers and service providers. The diverse composition of the committee is also its great strength. It enables challenges to be viewed from different perspectives and practical solutions to be developed.

The energy transition can only be successfully achieved if occupational health and safety is viewed and practised as a key component of this process. The adaptation of existing concepts to current developments by health and safety experts in the relevant field is just as important here as the integration of new technologies and scientific findings. This makes it all the more important for energy plant and grid operators, manufacturers, service providers and public authorities to work together to keep pace with the expansion and to pursue a common strategy on key occupational health and safety issues.