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On 18 July 2024, a 37-year-old woman was carrying out work as part of the construction of a wind turbine blade when a structure she was working on collapsed on top of her leaving her paralysed from the waist down.<\/p>\n
The task being undertaken at the time of the incident involved building the web section of the blade, a large internal structure running almost the full length of the blade to provide rigidity and prevent buckling in strong winds, functioning much like a spine.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred at the pre-cast section of the web, which sits at the root end of the blade where it connects to the rotor. This section weighs approximately 800kg before additional materials are added during the build process.<\/p>\n
As the injured employee and a colleague were preparing the pre-cast section to be wrapped in materials, it fell towards them after support poles, which had been holding the structure in place, were removed.<\/p>\n
An HSE investigation found that the company failed to adequately assess the risks arising from the work; failed to devise and implement a robust safe system of work to prevent employees from removing the support poles; and failed to adequately train employees in safe working methods.<\/p>\n
Following the incident, the company implemented a system whereby support poles are locked in place and can only be unlocked by a nominated person holding the key, once the relevant stage of the build has been completed.<\/p>\n
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined \u00a3600,000 and ordered to pay \u00a37980.80 \u00a0in costs at Grimsby Magistrates\u2019 Court.<\/p>\n
HSE Inspector Mark Slater said: \u201cAll work activities that carry a risk to health and safety must be properly risk assessed, and safe systems of work must be devised and implemented. Where protective measures are provided to prevent catastrophic incidents in high-risk areas, secondary measures such as lock-off procedures should also be in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this case, inadequate risk assessment and inadequate systems of work left employees to adopt their own working methods, exposing them to an unacceptable level of risk. This was a wholly avoidable incident.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n