A Job Task Analysis for Technicians in the Offshore Wind Industry

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Industrial Ergonomics
• Wind Energy Technology

Background:

• Establishing valid Physical Employment Standards (PES) requires identifying critical job aspects for operational success.
• The Offshore Wind Industry (OWI) presents unique physical demands for its workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the essential tasks within the OWI.
• To evaluate if current assessments adequately measure the physical capabilities required for these tasks.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive Job Task Analysis (JTA) was conducted.
• Methods included direct observations, researcher participation in tasks, operational manual reviews, and focus groups.
• Existing OWI Physical Employment Standards (PES) were reviewed against JTA findings.

Main Results:

• Five critical tasks were identified: vessel-to-transition piece transfer, internal ladder ascent, hatch maneuvering, torque/tensioning, and casualty hauling.
• Current medical standards and company assessments largely fail to evaluate the specific physical components required for these tasks, except for aerobic capacity.
• Assessments are not standardized across OWI companies.

Conclusions:

• The Job Task Analysis provides a foundation for developing appropriate physical fitness selection, assessment, and training protocols for OWI technicians.
• Implementing evidence-based standards ensures technicians are physically capable of performing critical tasks, minimizing injury risk to themselves and others.