Siemens Public Limited Company (plc) and RWE Innogy UK Limited (RWE)
were fined after 27-year-old Colin Sinclair was killed when he came into
contact with the unguarded rotating shaft of a gearbox within a turbine
at Causeymire windfarm.
On Thursday 10 December 2015, Tain
Sheriff Court heard how Colin Sinclair was one of two representatives of
Siemens along with two engineers from RWE carrying out an end of
warranty inspection at the windfarm. Mr Sinclair was appointed the
senior technician for this inspection. On 16 September 2009, Colin
Sinclair and another Siemens employee escorted the RWE staff up to
turbine number 18, to the area at the top of the wind turbine where the
rotor blades are mounted. Once at the top of the tower, an RWE engineer
began the process to pitch the rotor blades into the off position before
locking them off to enable the Siemens technicians to carry out an
inspection. It was during this process that Colin Sinclair’s harness
became entangled in the high-speed shaft coupling, causing him to be
pulled in towards the shaft. The emergency stop cord was pulled and the
emergency services called. Colin Sinclair was pronounced dead at the
scene.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found
that the gearbox had been inadequately guarded since January 2009,
exposing the rotating shafts.
Siemens Public Limited Company
pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work Etc. Act 1974, and was fined £107,000.
RWE Innogy UK Limited
pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work Etc. Act 1974, and was fined £45,000.
CRS
says “This death was easily preventable and involved a risk which is
well known and appreciated throughout all industries. It is
disappointing that 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.”
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