Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are currently in place, and what steps they intend to take, to address health and safety issues associated with the use of wind turbines.

Wind generators, in the same way as all other industries, are covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA). This requires them as duty holders to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their employees and any members of the public who may be affected by their activities.

There are also well-established British and European standards covering product safety. The HSE performs appropriate regulatory checks on the operation and maintenance of wind turbines and also commissions research as needed. An HSE-commissioned report on risk assessment in the vicinity of wind turbines was published in 2013 and can be viewed online at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr968.pdf.

Offshore wind developers are working together, through the G9 group, to seek solutions to safety challenges to working offshore. More information can be found at:

http://www.g9offshorewind.com/about-the-g9.