Two firms have been fined after a wind turbine technician was killed while working at a wind farm in Scotland.
Siemens Public Limited Company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974, and was fined £107,000.
RWE Innogy UK Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974, and was fined £45,000.
Tain Sheriff Court heard how Colin Sinclair, 27, was killed after coming into contact with the unguarded rotating shaft of a gearbox within a turbine at Causeymire windfarm on 16 September 2009.
Mr Sinclair was one of two representatives of Siemens along with two engineers from RWE carrying out an end of warranty inspection at the windfarm.
As senior technician for the inspection, Mr Sinclair and another Siemens employee escorted the RWE staff up to turbine 18, to the area at the top of the wind turbine where the rotor blades are mounted.
Once at the top of the tower, an RWE engineer began the process to pitch the rotor blades into the off position before locking them off to enable the Siemens technicians to carry out an inspection.
It was during this process that Mr Sinclair's harness became entangled in the high-speed shaft coupling, causing him to be pulled in towards the shaft.
The emergency stop cord was pulled and the emergency services called, however Mr Sinclair was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the gearbox had been inadequately guarded since January 2009, exposing the rotating shafts.
HSE inspector Niall Miller said: "This death was easily preventable and involved a risk which is well known and appreciated throughout all industries. It is disappointing that this risk wasn’t addressed despite the lack of guarding being known to those involved. This incident should serve as a reminder to employers of all sizes that failing to take simple precautions can have catastrophic consequences."
(LM/MH)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Construction News
15/12/2015
Two Firms Fined After Technician Killed While Inspecting Scottish Wind Farm
Latest Construction News
26/11/2024
Scottish Water has unveiled its largest-ever procurement initiative, aiming to modernise the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure while safeguarding the environment. The program, named Delivery Vehicle 4, is valued between £5 billion and £9 billion and is set to run from 2027 to 2033, with ...
26/11/2024
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the refurbishment of Calton Square, an office building currently occupied by Baillie Gifford until the end of December 2025. Promoted by Ardstone Capital on behalf of Manova Partners, the project aims to ...
26/11/2024
First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, praised the progress being made on the construction of the new Perth High School during a visit on Friday, 22 November. He was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, alongside senior Perth and Kinross Councillors, ...
26/11/2024
A state-of-the-art playpark has officially opened at King George V Park in Bearsden, following the completion of a £100,000 refurbishment. Funded by a combination of East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) Capital Funding and the Scottish Government’s Renewing Scotland’s Play Parks initiative, the ...
26/11/2024
Fife Council has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute ideas and propose sites for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan, known as Fife's Place Plan. The council is calling on community councils, landowners, and developers to share ...
26/11/2024
The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council has announced she is to retire in February 2025. Monica Patterson who has been Chief Executive for almost five years, has spent most of her professional career working in local government. Prior to joining East Lothian Council in 2010, she was Head of ...
25/11/2024
West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Connect Modular have jointly submitted a planning application to Glasgow City Council for the development of 33 affordable homes in Cowlairs. This project aligns with the wider Cowlairs Park regeneration scheme and the city's ambitious housing ...
25/11/2024
Arc-Tech (Scotland) has successfully completed a £6m Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services package for the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art resort, which opened its doors earlier this month, features a range of amenities, including a wave pool, luxury lodges, and ...
25/11/2024
Scottish Water has successfully completed the construction of a groundbreaking hydro energy generation scheme at Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian. This innovative project, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, will harness the power of water to offset a significant portion of the ...
25/11/2024
Work is set to commence on a £6.5 million project to upgrade the Double Dykes Gypsy/Traveller site near Perth. The initiative aims to replace outdated chalets with modern, energy-efficient accommodation and implement significant site improvements. Perth & Kinross Council secured £3.9 million from ...