Fatality at Viking wind farm site in Shetland Islands

What happened

On 5 June 2022, a labourer was crushed while using a hammer to remove dried concrete from a skip at the Viking site on Upper Kergord in the Shetland Islands. The skip bale arm fell and pinned him against the chest. Colleagues raised the alarm and attempted resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Contractor BAM Nuttall later pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches and was fined £800,000, with a £60,000 victim surcharge.

Contributing factors

An investigation reported that the contractor had not secured the bale arm from falling, had not identified that risk, and had not put in place a safe system of work for anyone using, maintaining or cleaning the skip. No further technical cause is reported.

Lessons learned

1. Secure movable plant parts, including bale arms, before cleaning or maintenance starts.
2. Assess the risks of every task involving plant, including routine cleaning.
3. Put in place and follow a safe system of work that keeps workers clear of parts that can fall.

More lessons on maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, worker safety and safe systems of work, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Date of the death
• Name of the wind farm
• Work being done
• How the death occurred

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

kchanews.com