On 11 March 2026, the wind industry will reach an important milestone with the launch of the Wind Turbine System Safety Rules (WTSSR). The new set of rules represent a significant evolution of the existing wind industry safety framework, providing a clearer, more integrated approach to managing electrical risks within wind turbine generators (WTGs), particularly in systems where high voltage (HV) activities are involved.
The WTSSR are built on the strong foundations of the existing Wind Turbine Safety Rules (WTSR) framework, which provides organisations with the flexibility to develop their own management instructions for low voltage (LV) apparatus. This approach has enabled organisations of different sizes, operating across different regions, to adopt a robust yet adaptable Safe System of Work (SSoW) without compromising safety.
While the WTSR framework has proven effective, the WTSSR address specific challenges associated HV work within WTGs. Unlike WTSR, the WTSSR cover both LV and HV apparatus within a wind turbine, removing the need for separate systems and eliminating the requirement for a different HV SSoW for turbine-related tasks. This integrated approach streamlines processes, reduces duplication, and minimises paperwork, while remaining aligned with established industry best practice, including WTSR principles and other standardised guidelines like the Model Distribution Safety Rules (MDSR). Crucially, the WTSSR have been developed with direct input from owners, OEMs and service providers, and validated through real-life operational scenarios to ensure they are practical, relevant and effective.
To support the launch of the WTSSR, an industry webinar will be held on the same day, offering professionals an early opportunity to understand how the WTSSR strengthen and extend the current WTSR framework. The session will feature contributions from Aamir Shahzad (Vestas), Mark Watson (Equinor) and Julie Anne Brown (Global Wind Organisation), who will provide a structured overview of the WTSSR and their supporting procedures. The speakers will explain how the WTSSR fit within the wider industry Safe System of Work (SSoW), clarify the differences between WTSSR and WTSR, and outline why the new rules represent an important step forward in the management of HV-related risks on wind turbines. The webinar will also include a dedicated Q&A session, allowing attendees to explore the practical implications of the rule set.
Registration details can be found here.
In addition, and in line with the existing WTSR training framework, the WTSSR training programme will also be launched in March 2026.
For further information, or to submit questions ahead of the launch, please contact [email protected].
By Andrea Pantoja, Technical Officer, SafetyOn
