Fatal wind farm accident

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 30 January 2013
  • Generated on 3 November 2025
  • IMCA SF 03/13
  • 1 minute read

A fatal wind farm incident has been brought to the attention of IMCA. 

What happened?

A crane operator working at an onshore wind farm site in Europe was killed when a blade dropped onto the cab during the installation of a turbine.

The turbine manufacturer noted that further updates on the accident will be provided when the root cause analysis has been carried out.

Further information is available from vertikal.net/en/news/story/16352/.

Crane cab destroyed by turbine blade landing on top of it

Crane cab destroyed by turbine blade landing on top of it

Latest Safety Flashes:

Injury after fall from vertical ladder

Two crew members were performing routine engine room fire watch and thruster space rounds checking oil pressure and temperature checks, when one of them was injured falling off a vertical ladder.

Read more
LTI: serious injury to thumb when pipe fell during maintenance

A 2nd engineer on a vessel suffered a serious injury to the left thumb whilst dismantling a grey water pipe.

Read more
MSF: Burn to arm from contact with tumble dryer

The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) has published Safety Alert 25-13 relating to a crew member burning themselves on a tumble dryer.

Read more
Japan Transport Safety Board: two confined space fatalities

The Japan Transport Safety Board has published report MA2025-4 into a fatal incident which occurred in May 2024 on a bulk carrier.

Read more
On a more positive note…

A member reports a number of positive and encouraging trends following vessel visits across the fleet.

Read more

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.

All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.

The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.

Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.