An assembly and method are provided for preventing exposure of personnel to an opening defined by a surface of a wind turbine. Accordingly, a hatch assembly is arranged adjacent to the opening. The hatch assembly includes a frame structure and a support structure. The frame structure includes a plurality of frame members arranged together to at least partially surrounded opening the plurality of frame members further define a passageway for receiving the support surface. The support surface is slidable between a first position and a second position. The support surface occludes the opening defined by the surface of the wind turbine when the support surface is in the first position and occludes the passageway defined by the plurality frame members when in the second position so as to prevent exposure of personnel to the opening.