School wind turbine collapses and crushes contractors’ van
A wind turbine collapsed just yards away from stunned students as it was being set up on a school field yesterday.
The playing field at Fakenham High School, Norfolk, was evacuated after the 40ft turbine fell, crushing the bonnet of a contractor’s van.
The £28,000 renewable energy source was being assembled by Lincolnshire-based firm Gladwood BCS.
It was supposed to have been the crowning glory for the school’s eco-drive which earlier this week was recognised with a Green Flag education award.
Yesterday headteacher Richard Moore described the incident as ‘a bit of an embarrassment’.
The Health and Safety Executive has asked him to provide a full report on the accident.
He said: ‘I am sure that when we get to the bottom of what went wrong we will get another one put up.
‘There were staff on duty, but not in the immediate vicinity, and fortunately the children were not gathered around watching what was happening.’
He added: ‘A group of footballers on the field told me they heard a noise and when they turned round it was falling.
‘There was no sudden gust of wind and the conditions we had were exactly what you would want if you were putting up a wind turbine.’
Joe Campion, a director of Gladwood BCS, said: ‘I’m not sure what’s happened, except that it is a very bad accident.
‘I understand the turbine was still connected to the winch when it went down and somewhere along the line it has lost support from the base.’
He added: ‘There was a large safety zone around the base of the turbine, so nobody was at risk apart from our operators, who are quite aware they need to keep an eye on the turbine as it is winched up.
‘We try very hard to put these up as safely as possible. In this instance something went wrong and it is a very bad situation we find ourselves in.’
Peter Griffiths, director of turbine supplier Aeolus Power, said: ‘It was an unfortunate accident. I have been assured all the health and safety requirements on site were carried out.
‘The area was cordoned off and there was no danger to anybody outside that cordon.’
By Daily Mail Reporter
Mail Online
2 December 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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