Media releases

The 2018 Incident Data Report found that high potential incidents – defined as having the ability to cause a fatality or a life-changing injury – were down 13% in 2018 compared to 2017.

The report, being launched today at Global Offshore Wind 2019, also highlights that overall there was a 17% decrease in the lost time injury frequency compared to the previous year. While the overall number of hours reduced by 4% in 2018 from 2017, lost time injuries fell more sharply, reflecting improved safety performance. This improved safety performance was further reflected in the 22% decrease of the total recordable injury rate.

The Energy Institute provides the secretariat for G+ and facilitates its work programme.

Commenting on the report, Paul Cowling, G+ Chairman and Managing Director Innogy Renewables UK, said:

“2018 has been a positive year for the G+, as our commitment to improve the health and safety in the offshore wind industry with programmes such as our two yearly Safe By Design workshops, have contributed to our ever improving health and safety performance.

“Our efforts continue to reduce injury frequency, further internationalise the G+ and increase collaboration with other organisations, in promoting our shared goal of improving the health and safety performance of the industry on a global level.”

The report outlines that the decrease in total incidents occurred as a result of several factors, including an improving safety culture through shared lessons learned, enhanced industry technologies, a focus of attention across G+ members on high potential hazards and continuous improvement of working methods.

For the first time, the report records incidents by their country of occurrence, enabling country specific feedback.

Also published today by G+, in collaboration with Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme (DROPS), is the DROPS Reliable Securing Booklet for Offshore Wind, developed with equipment suppliers and users to help eliminate the risk of dropped objects within the sector.

While dropped object incident rates declined in 2018 by over 60% when compared to 2017, 59% of these incidents were classified as high potential by G+, representing an important threat to safety and underlining the need for industry vigilance.

Notes for editors

1. For media enquiries contact Neil Michie on 020 7467 7132 or nmichie@energyinst.org
2. The 2018 Incident Data Report is available at www.energy-inst.org/IncidentData2018.
3. The G+/DROPS Reliable Securing Booklet for Offshore Wineis available at www.energy-inst.org/DroppedObjects.
4. G+ is the global health and safety organisation for the offshore wind industry. The Energy Institute provides the secretariat and supports the ongoing work of the G+.
   We bring together business leaders, health and safety experts and organisations operating in the offshore wind industry to drive good practice and promote world-class safety performance across the sector.
   Through an evidence based approach, we ensure key emerging risks are mitigated through co-operation and shared learnings, aiming for the highest levels of health and safety standards being pursued throughout the life cycle of offshore wind farms.
   We engage on important industry matters by facilitating discussion and bringing together industry stakeholders to speak with one voice for the offshore wind industry.
5. The Energy Institute (EI) is the chartered professional membership body bringing global energy expertise together.
   We gather and share essential knowledge about energy, provide the skills that are helping us all use it more wisely, and develop the good practice needed to keep it safe and secure.
   We articulate the voice of energy experts, taking the know-how of around 20,000 members and 200 companies from 120 countries to the heart of the public debate.
   And we’re an independent, not-for-profit, safe space for evidence-based collaboration, an honest broker between industry, academia and policy makers.
   The EI is here for anyone who wants to better understand or contribute to the extraordinary energy system on which we all depend.