HEALTH & SAFETY
In at the Deep End COMING UP SWIMMINGLY
As offshore wind developments venture into deeper waters, Chris Lawson, Royal Haskoning's Director of Health & Safety, explains why developers need to place health and safely at the top of their agendas.
"Health and safety surrounding offshore wind development contains much unchartered territory.While developers are bound by the Construction Design & Management (CDM) Regulations 2007, this legislation is more commonly associated with land-based projects”.
"Clearly the industry can't wait for legislation to catch up, so we need to interpretand apply the spirit of the legislation where applicable to offshore wind developments too. However, as the pace of development increases, developers will have less time to consider health and safety practicalities."
GETTING INTO DEEPWATER
According to Chris, the challenges developers face include managing risk relating to operations carried out in deep water, miles offshore. "Wave heights significantly increase in deeper water and swells become more powerful. As a starting point, consideration must be given to vessel suitability, workforce competence, structural integrity and heavy lifting operations. Developers also need clear procedures for transporting materials and personnel during normal and adverse weather conditions, especially during emergency situations.
"It's important to set expectations surrounding roles and responsibilities early on. Existing legislation requires a CDM Coordinator to be appointed for any project lasting more than 30 days. However there is currently no specific resource within the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) that provides guidance on offshore wind projects. So this role will become more important as responsibility falls to the CDM Coordinator to interpret regulations and apply them to an individual project."
Sharing information is another essential aspect of health and safety management. When working in a high risk environment, ignorance can cost lives!
Trade body RenewableUK is driving standards in this area through its 'Lessons Learnt' database and is providing information to companies prepared to submit accident, incident and 'near miss' data on a non-attributable basis.
"This information is crucial for the development of innovative solutions and mitigating risk. Developers willing to take a proactive approach to interpret legislation and search for solutions to new challenges will benefit.While it's impossible to predict all the challenges the offshore wind environment presents, we can share information and experience across the industry to develop best practice quickly."
Chris concludes: "With renewable energy targets to be met, we must apply what we already know, anticipate new risks and put measures in place. To do this we must draw on best practice from the oil and gas, port and marine industries, and develop health and safety solutions unique to offshore wind development."
Royal Haskoning is the appointed CDM Coordinator for the 315MW Sheringham Shoal development, off the North Norfolk coast.
Royal Haskoning
www.royalhaskoning.com
20
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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