Amidst plans to boost wind energy generation in the UK, the onshore wind industry health and safety organisation, SafetyOn, has today announced a new Chair to guide its burgeoning workstreams.
Supported by the Energy Institute, SafetyOn provides leadership in health and safety for the onshore wind industry.
Newly appointed as Chair, Heather Chambers brings over 12 years of sector experience to the post. As Head of Health, Safety and Environment at BayWa r.e., Heather oversees the safe operating practices of the global renewable energy developer, helping to shape the clean energy transition with its energy workers at the forefront.
Heather will be supported by Jason Welch who remains as Vice Chair of SafetyOn, having previously been a Leadership Board member for the past three years.
SafetyOn Chair Heather Chambers commented:
“Now in its fourth year, SafetyOn continues to go from strength to strength by driving tangible change in our approach to safety within the sector.
“As more people are set to enter the industry, our mission has never been more important. I look forward to leading this vital work, aiming to embed the highest safety standards across our vibrant sector.”
Energy Institute Chief Executive Nick Wayth CEng FEI adds:
“Following pledges to rapidly scale up renewable energy generation post-COP28, onshore wind activity will play a mounting role in the UK’s transition towards our net-zero future.
“As the industry evolves, SafetyOn’s focus on safe operations remains steadfast. With Heather guiding their expanding work streams, I have no doubt SafetyOn will continue to provide industry with the leadership and guidance needed to uphold best practice in the sector.”
SafetyOn comprises 20 Tier 1 members –Banks Renewables, BayWa r.e., Deutsche Windtechnik, EDF Renewables, Enercon, Full Cricle Wind, Fred. Olsen Renewables, GE Renewable Energy, Natural Power, Nordex Group, Renantis, RES, RWE, ScottishPower Renewables, Siemens Gamesa, SSE Renewables, Statkraft, Vattenfall, Ventient Energy and Vestas.
Established in 2019, SafetyOn works to tackle health and safety issues in the industry through four key areas: incident data reporting, good practice guidelines, safe by design and learning from shared incidents.
Utilising data from the Incident Data Report, SafetyOn compiled a four-part video campaign to mitigate the prominent rate of hand injuries in the industry this year. After its integration into training programmes, follow up data suggested a 2% decline in hand injuries despite an increased number of hours worked, underlining the importance of raising awareness. Following this, the campaign won the Scottish Green Energy Award’s Positive Improvement Award and IOSH Scotland’s Campaign of the Year Award.
The 2024 workplan will expand SafetyOn’s impact, focusing in part on improving the visibility of the organisation across the supply chain, as well as continuing established activities such as their annual Incident Data report, safe by design programme and learning initiatives.
Notes for editors