November 25, 2013
England

Probe launched after man falls from Bacup wind turbine

By Hannah Al-Othman, Reporter | Lancashire Telegraph | 24th November 2013 | www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

An investigation has been launched after a construction worker fell 40 foot from a wind turbine.

The Health and Safety Executive is looking into the incident at the new windfarm on Flower Scar Road, off Todmorden Road, Bacup.

The man, in his 30s, was working inside the turbine when he fell.

He was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital after the incident at around 2.30pm on Thursday.

An air ambulance spokewoman said he was taken to hospital with suspected lower spine and pelvic injuries in the fall, but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

North West ambulance service, the police, fire service and the Pendle and Rossendale Mountain Rescue team were called out.

Andy Simpson, team leader with Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue, said: “We received a call that a man had fallen from a wind turbine just outside Bacup.

“We arrived at the scene and found that the construction worker had suffered a 40 foot fall onto a platform.

“He had fallen while inside one of the turbines that are currently being built.

“The ambulance service put him onto an immobilising stretcher and took him to hospital.

“We had two team members with him helping the emergency services while he was being taken to the ambulance.”

Lancashire Police said that they had been informed of the incident, but West Yorkshire Police were already in attendance.

A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: “We were called out at 2.38 to Flower Scar Road near Todmorden.

“A man had fallen inside the turbine. Police, fire and ambulance attended. He was taken to Preston hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

“The incident has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).”

A spokesman for the HSE said enquiries were being made.

Peter Dixon, a spokesman for Glennmont Partner, which owns the site, said: “We are concerned about something like this and we’ve acted very quickly to gather information. We are gathering information and, in due course, we will know fully what happened.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/11/25/probe-launched-after-man-falls-from-bacup-wind-turbine/