Wind turbine technology is constantly evolving and there is an ongoing responsibility to ensure that workers who conduct routine operations and maintenance can do so in the safest conditions possible. Whilst renewable energy is a positive aspect in environmental management, the sobering accident and safety data spotlights how personnel safety is critical. Given the expected growth of wind energy operations managing risk will continue to be an important focus for the industry.
Wind Turbine Accident data
Scotland Against Spin is an independent alliance campaigning for the reform of the Scottish Government’s wind energy policy. They are members of the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division Stakeholders’ Forum. The graph above includes all documented cases of wind turbine related accidents and incidents which could be found and confirmed through press reports or official information releases up to 30 June 2022.
Scotland Against Spin (SAS) believe that this compendium of accident information may be the most comprehensive available anywhere but that their data may be the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of numbers of accidents and their frequency.
Source: Scotland Against Spin
RenewableUK has produced Onshore Wind Health & Safety Guidelines including:
Supporting and enhancing the overall improvement in health and safety performance for onshore wind projects
Adding value and reducing costs and uncertainty, by supporting the timely, effective, safe and sustainable delivery and operation of assets throughout their life-cycle
How can Skylark’s operational control platform support these guidelines by managing risk, compliance, and worker safety?
Health & Safety Management and Response
Skylark operational control platform has built in safety notifications, site worker check-ins, check-outs, adverse weather alerts, lone worker tracking tool and emergency response plans.
There is access to the onsite emergency response plan and operational control teams have access to live pictures of the site to enable further management of emergency response.
The app also has a free-call feature to contact the site controller should the need arise.
Training Compliance
Personnel training details are stored within the Skylark operational control platform and access to work is only ensured for certified workers only.
Alerts are received when training is outdated, and site logins are denied if training is outdated.
With automated training compliance within the Skylark software, higher standards of safety and reduced risk levels can be achieved.
Site inductions
Inductions for site workers can be issued remotely to the Skylark mobile app ensuring that all workers complete the induction successfully before any work commences.
Gain insights about health and safety statistics
With user friendly analytics, reports on all operational, site worker and compliance activities are readily available at the touch of a button.