Safety performance in the offshore renewable energy industry
- Safety Flash
- Published on 31 July 2020
- Generated on 9 April 2026
- IMCA SF 23/20
- 2 minute read
What happened?
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has written to a number of trade bodies representing the offshore renewable energy industry, including IMCA, expressing concern “that in some sectors of the wind energy industry, improvements in health and safety performance has at best stalled if not reversed. In 2020, there have been a number of serious incidents both in the UK and elsewhere which could indicate that any reversal may continue.”
IMCA agrees that there is a renewed need to ensure that all organisations and individuals provide the necessary leadership to ensure health and safety remains a priority in the offshore renewable energy industry.
Actions
The HSE seeks to encourage companies operating in the offshore renewable energy industry to ensure that:
- “Work equipment subject to statutory inspection regimes is in a safe condition and arrangements are in place to ensure all inspections are now being carried out.
- Arrangements are in place to ensure new entrants into the industry are provided with suitable information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure they work safely.
- During this period where social distancing measures are required and thereafter, suitable arrangements for monitoring and auditing performance are provided.
- Well publicised cost-reductions or other pressures do not lead to compromises in health and safety. In particular work is planned to ensure that revised deadlines are realistically achievable in practice and do not lead to work being conducted in poor weather or environmental conditions.
- Emergency response arrangements are provided, fully and regularly tested with lessons learnt incorporated.
- Arrangements are in place to monitor factors including fatigue and personal circumstances to ensure individual well-being.
- Incidents, cases of ill-health, dangerous occurrences and safety observations are properly reported, investigated and where necessary steps taken to prevent recurrence.”
The full text of the letter from Trevor Johnson, HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety, can be found here.
IMCA works closely with the offshore renewable energy industry and with the trade bodies representing that industry, to share safety incidents, learnings, and actions.
IMCA Safety Flashes are available for all and the incident database is fully searchable. Please feel free to review incidents shared by our members on the following topics relating to the offshore renewable energy industry:
- Crew transfer vessels
- Wind farms
- Turbine towers
- Workboats
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.
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