Power firms plead guilty to failings after man dies working on wind farm – Herald

TWO power companies plead guilty to health and safety failings after a man
was killed when he got caught in the machinery of a giant turbine.

Technician Colin Sinclair was at the top of a 200ft turbine at Causeymire
wind farm in Caithness when his safety harness become tangled in the
high-speed revolving shaft.

Tain Sheriff court was told by Depute Fiscal Geoff Main that “the risk of
entanglement was entirely foreseeable” in the events which lead to Mr
Sinclain’s death in 2009.

German power company Siemens was fined £107,000 for a breach of the law
resulting in Mr Sinclair’s death, while RWE Innogy was fined £45,000 for a
lack of supervision of Siemens.

The court heard how Mr Sinclair, from Thurso, had stopped the rotor blades
using a control panel inside a turbine and he and three others then climbed
the nacelle, the housing area where the rotor blades are mounted.

However two metal guards were not in place, one had been removed because it
did not fit a new gearbox and Mr Main said the absence of the other was
unknown.

To carry out the inspection, the workers had to manoeuvre the 130ft rotor
blades into the correct position. Mr Sinclair was asked twice if he was
clear of the machinery, who answered yes.

Mr Main said: “Mr Sinclair’s lanyard, which was hanging down by his side,
became tangled in the high-speed shaft coupling, causing him to be pulled
in towards the shaft, resulting in him sustaining a large would to the back
of his head.”

Mr Sinclair was unresponsive when released and died despite the efforts of
emergency services.

Murdo Macleod, QC for Siemens, which ran and maintained the site
day-to-day, offered the company’s “sincere regret” over the tragic death of
a “valued and well-liked colleague”.

Peter Gray, QC for operator RWE Innogy, said the company had received
assurances from Siemens over the problem of the guards.

An inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Niall Miller,
said: “This death was easily preventable and involved a risk well known and
appreciated throughout all industries.

“It is disappointing this risk wasn’t addressed despite the lack of
guarding being known to those involved. This incident should serve as a
reminder to employers of all sizes that failing to take simple precautions
can have catastrophic consequences”.