Worker dies after fall from turbine at Kilgallioch wind farm, Scotland

A 37-year-old man died after falling while working on a turbine at Kilgallioch wind farm, which straddles the border of Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire in Scotland. The Scottish Ambulance Service was alerted at 5.13pm and dispatched an ambulance, a manager, an air ambulance and an emergency medical retrieval service, with the coastguard and a special operations response team also sent and later stood down. Police Scotland said the man was pronounced dead at the scene and that the site was closed while enquiries were at an early stage. The Health and Safety Executive was informed and a report was to be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. The height of the fall was not confirmed, though the source reports that some turbines at the site are around 480 feet high. The 96-turbine, 239MW site was under construction at the time and had been described by Scottish Power Renewables as set to be the second largest wind farm in the UK once completed. In January of the same year a turbine at the same site collapsed, prompting an investigation by Scottish Power Renewables and turbine manufacturer Gamesa.

Not reported. The circumstances of the fall were not detailed in the source and enquiries were at an early stage, with the Health and Safety Executive informed.

1. Working at height on wind turbines requires rigorous fall protection systems and strict adherence to safe working procedures throughout construction.
2. Emergency response arrangements at remote construction sites should be planned and rehearsed, including access for air ambulance and specialist rescue teams.
3. Where a site has already experienced a significant equipment failure, operators should review whether ongoing construction activities and safe systems of work need reassessment before further work proceeds.

News report via Google News