The G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation and HeliOffshore have collaborated on new guidelines for safe helicopter operations.
The G+ ‘Good practice guidelines for safe helicopter operations in support of the global offshore wind industry’ and HeliOffshore ‘Wind Farm Recommended Practice’ documents set a new benchmark for offshore wind aviation safety.
The HeliOffshore Windfarm Working Group, led by Siemens Gamesa aviation specialist Lee Harris, identified and prioritised a list of critical topics to be addressed which were published in both documents respectively.
Similarly, G+ member companies formed a working group to steer the development of these guidelines, providing oversight as well as contributing to the content.
G+ general manager Kate Harvey said: “The harmonisation and sharing of experience that these guidelines promote will lead to real health and safety benefits, as we all continue to work tirelessly to uphold our safety performance.
“Wind industry users of helicopter services cannot simply ‘contract out’ their overall responsibility for the safety of their employees and others who may be affected by their activities, so these are fundamental resources for the services they procure.
“As offshore wind capacity grows, our commitment to operations being carried out in a safe and efficient manner remains unwavering.”
HeliOffshore CEO Tim Rolfe added: “Regulators, operators and manufacturers across the world have collaborated on the documents, which support the safety leaders of tomorrow. We will now work with our members to implement these practices at an organisational level.
“As the energy sector evolves, we have a unique opportunity to apply the accumulated knowledge, skills and expertise of the last 50 years to new developments – particularly in renewables – in the decades ahead.
“While the risks and challenges may change, our vision remains the same: a safer frontline, for everyone, served by an open, responsive and aligned offshore aviation industry.”