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UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
Offshore wind industry maintains focus on health and safety alongside massive sector growth
Transparency in relation to offshore wind workforce safety and new improved guidance were both on the agenda at last month’s WindEnergy Hamburg 2018 conference.
The G+ Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation, comprising nine leading operators, published its Incident Data Report 2017, providing an overview of the health and safety performance of the G+ members’ offshore activity.
Despite five million more hours being worked by G+ members as activity grows, 46 fewer high potential incidents were reported than the previous year. The report also shows positive improvement in lagging indicators with an 8% reduction in the lost time injury frequency and a 14% reduction in the number of restricted work day incidents.
Given the dramatic pace of offshore wind capacity deployment and the height in individual turbines – some at more than half the height of the Shard in London – new Working at Height guidance, also published by the G+, provides invaluable good practice for those operating in potentially hazardous offshore wind environments.
Welcoming the reports Paul Cowling, Managing Director Innogy Renewables UK and G+ Chairman, said, ‘These reports provide industry with invaluable data and good practice to make sure that health and safety standards remain industry’s absolute priority.’
‘G+ continues to play a vital role shining a spotlight on safety and best practice through these reports, as well as continually driving improvement.’
UK Country Manager Ørsted Wind Power UK Benj Sykes said, ‘Working safely at height is of huge importance not just for Ørsted, but for the entire offshore wind industry, and the revised G+ Good Practice Guidelines will help deliver safer performance.’
‘And the latest Statistics Report will be instrumental in guiding us to focus on the right areas to continue driving improved safety across the sector.’
EI Technical Director Martin Maeso MEI also spoke at WindEnergy Hamburg on how the wind industry can benefit through the exchange of experience and knowledge between the sectors and in the long term from jointly generated good practice and standards – demonstrating the value of the EI technical work programme and becoming actively involved as a member.
The Incident Data Report can be downloaded for free at: energy-inst.org/IncidentData2018 and the Working at Height guidance can be downloaded at: energy-inst.org/WorkingAtHeight2018
