Media releases

Transparency in relation to offshore wind workforce safety and new improved guidance were both on the agenda today at the WindEnergy Hamburg 2018 conference.

The G+ Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation, comprising nine leading operators, today 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 (23%) 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.

Despite this, further improvement and vigilance is still required, with an increase in medical treatment injuries compared to 2016 and dropped objects highlighted as an ongoing risk.

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 published today 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.”

Notes for editors

1. For more information contact Neil Michie: nmichie@energyinst.org or 020 7467 7132.

2. The Incident Data report can be viewed at: www.energy-inst.org/IncidentData2018

3. The Working at Height guidance can be viewed at: www.energy-inst.org/WorkingAtHeight2018

4. G+ is the global health and safety organisation for the offshore wind industry. G+ is operated in partnership with the Energy Institute, who provide the secretariat and support our ongoing work programme.

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 health and safety performance across the sector.

The member companies of the G+ are: EDF Renewables, EDP Renewables, E.ON, Equinor, Innogy, Ørsted, ScottishPower Renewables, SSE and Vattenfall.

Associated members of the G+ are: Siemens Gamesa, MHI Vestas, Van Oord, Macquarie/Green Investment Group and Transmission Investment (OFTO).

5. The Energy Institute (EI) is the chartered professional membership body bringing global energy expertise together. Our ambition is that energy, and its critical role in our world, is better understood, managed and valued.

We’re a unique network with insight spanning the world of energy, from conventional oil and gas to the most innovative renewable and energy efficient technologies. 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 250 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.