New data published today by the G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation, based at the Energy Institute, showed a 94% rise in offshore wind incidents since 2022.
Members of G+, comprising the biggest offshore wind operators and wind turbine OEMs globally, reported 1,679 incidents in 2023, compared to 868 in 2022.
With the key safety metrics of Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR) and Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF) remaining broadly steady compared to previous years, the increase was partly driven by the 17.3 million additional operational hours worked by G+ members in 2023.
The number of reported incidents was in 2023 increased in a number of areas, including hazards reported of 339, up from 70 in the 2022 period, with asset damage rising to 387 instances from 157 in the prior year.
Lost work day injuries, medical treatment injuries and first aid injuries all increased.
Of the incidents, 1049 took place on construction sites, 560 happened on an operational projects while 67 occurred on development sites.
Given the increase in reported incidents, the importance of joint action to improve health and safety performance cannot be understated, according to the organisation.
G+ members continue to work collectively to drive good practice and promote world-class safety performance, engaging operational personnel through initiatives such as the G+ Technician Innovation Challenge, to mitigate hazards on sites, it added
Promisingly, despite the increase in the number of incidents overall, the percentage of high potential incidents more than halved, falling to 11% of total incidents in 2023.
Tragically, a fatality occurred on an onshore turbine assembly this year.
Commenting on the report, G+ chair and head of health and safety at SSE Renewables David Griffiths said: “2024 is all about collaboration. Ensuring our industry continues to build upon the progress made over the past decade requires a sector-wide effort.
“While a headline increase in total recorded incidents is cause for concern, G+ has redoubled its efforts to engage frontline workers and mitigate hazards on site, and I’m pleased to see a genuine step change in the reporting culture across several key metrics.
“Through the G+, global operators and WTG OEMs look to share the experiences we have had to date with the markets that are newer to offshore wind development so that together we can learn and improve health and safety.
“From governments to trade organisations to frontline workers, everybody has a part to play.”
Energy Institute chief executive Dr Nick Wayth added: “The Incident Data report shows we cannot be complacent when it comes to mitigating health and safety risks at every stage of project development.
“As the offshore wind industry continues to ramp up and play an increasing role in our energy mix, the work of G+ has never been so crucial.”
The G+ work programme continues to be led and informed by industry incident data.
While lifting operations continue to be the main work process with potential for incidents, vessel operations (including jack-ups and barges) and routine maintenance have become new areas of focus as major projects get underway.
Work continues, in cooperation with the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), to reduce incidents in these areas, following on from previous joint work on boat landings, immersion suits and more recently, gangway operations.