Offshore wind H&S: a review and analysis

David Rowell*, David McMillan, James Carroll

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
430 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The offshore wind industry is growing rapidly around the world. Many governments have set ambitious targets for growth to achieve their decarbonisation goals. As the industry grows it can become more challenging to build and operate wind farms safely. Wind farms are being constructed further from shore in tougher weather and sea conditions. In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive has raised concerns about safety performance. This paper aims to review the current state of health and safety in the offshore wind industry. It reviews the latest research, injury statistics and the state of legislation covering the sector. It also considers how the risk profile of the industry may change in coming years. The paper finds there is a need for more research specific to the safety challenges of offshore wind. Injury rate statistics show that performance is 3–4 times worse than comparable industries, and industry reports do not currently include large parts of the sector. Rapid growth and the implementation of new technologies will create additional challenges. Regulators should consider the implementation of industry specific safety legislation to manage the unique challenges of offshore wind.
Original languageEnglish
Article number113928
Number of pages13
JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Volume189
Issue numberPart A
Early online date21 Oct 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jan 2024

Keywords

  • offshore wind
  • safety
  • H&S
  • KPI
  • safety legislation
  • injury rates

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