Risk assessment for WWII unexploded ordnance completed

Offshore wind farms are being constructed in waters that have seen either extensive war fighting, or the dumping of unexploded munitions throughout the 20th Century.

There is a risk that offshore projects may run into unexploded ordnance (UXO) during the construction, operations and maintenance phases.

In recognition of this threat, Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, situated in Liverpool Bay, North Wales, commissioned 6 Alpha Associates to provide expertise on the reduction of risk associated with the discovery of UXO.

The strategic advisor for managing specialist risks completed a comprehensive, five-month UXO risk management project for the offshore wind farm, confirming that the threat to cable installation from UXO has been reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable.

Simon Cooke, managing director for 6 Alpha Associates said: “When working in European coastal waters, it is imperative that developers and construction teams acknowledge the very real risk that unexploded ordnance and munitions present.

“The Second World War saw war fighting and afterwards, extensive dumping of munitions off the UK and other European coasts and, given the rapid development of offshore wind farm activity, it is a challenge that has been properly acknowledged and addressed by RWE.”

6 Alpha Associates continues to work closely with RWE at their Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm to ensure the threat and risk of UXO discovery and disposal is managed and reduced.

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.

Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.