Two global engineering companies have been prosecuted after an employee was killed and another seriously injured during construction of an offshore wind farm.

Fluor Ltd was found guilty of breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £275,000 in fines and over £271,000 in costs.

Siemens Windpower A/S (SWP) were charged with the same offence and also a Section 2 (1) breach of the same act, but pleaded guilty at an earlier stage.

It was fined £375,000 with costs of over £105,000.

Both companies were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The incident happened when a team of engineers were loading wind turbine blades onto a sea barge for delivery to Greater Gabbard, off the Suffolk coast, on 21 May 2010.

-- Advertisement --

During the loading of wind turbine components at Pakeston Quay, Harwich, a 2.11 tonne part of the blade transport arrangement fell off, fatally crushing one worker and seriously injuring another.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard both workers were employed by SWP, but were working for the principal contractor Fluor.

The HSE investigation found serious safety failings in the two firms' management systems for the loading operation, which allowed vital parts of equipment to go unchecked before being lifted.

HSE Inspector Julie Rayner said: "This incident could easily have been avoided had suitable systems and procedures been in place to ensure that all loads were properly connected whilst being lifted.

"Had the right questions been asked when the lift was being planned and had the bolt and two brackets holding the blade and frame together been checked before they were lifted, the death and serious injury of two workers could have been prevented.

"This case clearly highlights the need to ensure that relevant information is considered when lift plans are produced to ensure that all of the relevant risks are considered."

(LM/CD)