Energy company fined after worker injured

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has been sentenced after a contractor was injured by a falling steel wire coil.

Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 23 April 2017, a contractor was working at the Galloper Offshore Wind Farm pre-assembly site in Great Yarmouth when a steel wire coil, weighing 50kg, dropped onto their left forearm and wrist. The worker suffered a fractured wrist as a result of the incident.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd failed to ensure a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and adequate control measures were in place to prevent the injury.

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd of Farady House, Sir Williams Siemens Square, Frimely, was found guilty of breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £66,000. and ordered to pay £10,106.38 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Steve Lewis commented: “This could have been easily prevented if the defendant had put in place simple measures to reduce the risk of injury from dropped objects.

“Undertaking suitable and sufficient risk assessment and developing safe system of work which follow the hierarchy of control are an important element of risk control and reduction. “

Notes to Editors:
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk