Media releases

The annual analysis, based on data submitted by SafetyOn member companies, reveals significant progress in reducing workplace risk and injuries across UK onshore wind farms, despite a year of unprecedented industry growth.

Key findings:

• Incident rates fall despite increased activity: In 2024, a total of 654 incidents were recorded, an 8% rise from 2023, but this occurred alongside a 17% increase in hours worked (from 7.5 million to 8.8 million), resulting in a sharp drop in the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) to 0.27 and Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF) to 0.08 – both the lowest on record.
• Targeted improvements in injury types: Hand injuries, the most common injury type, fell by 15%, while injuries from hand and power tools dropped by 71%. However, manual handling injuries increased, now accounting for the highest number of injury-related incidents.
• Despite incident rates dropping overall, access/egress and fallen object risks have risen. Incidents related to access and egress more than doubled, and incidents involving fallen objects rose by 75%, highlighting evolving risk areas that require renewed industry focus.
• High potential incidents at lowest proportion since 2020: High potential incidents - those with the potential for severe injury or fatality - fell by 8% to 97 cases, representing just 15% of all incidents, the lowest proportion since 2020.
• Major reduction in severe injuries: Lost work day incidents dropped by 59%, from 17 in 2023 to just seven in 2024, marking the first time this figure has fallen to single digits since SafetyOn began collecting data.
• No fatalities reported: For the second consecutive year, there were zero fatalities in the sector.

While the 2024 data represents overall a positive trajectory for the sector, SafetyOn and its members remain resolute in their focus to uphold and strengthen industry safety standards.

Commenting, Heather Chambers, Chair of SafetyOn and Head of Health, Safety and Environment at Vantage RE, said:

“SafetyOn has been dedicating itself to enhancing standards in the industry and keeping industry leaders informed about incidents for half a decade now. The results of this year's Incident Data Report demonstrate that we are making continued progress in this mission.

“SafetyOn's efforts ensure that health and safety incidents are continuously tracked, with measures taken to address issues and learn from incidents, creating a safer work environment for all.

“Although I'm pleased to see a reduction in incident rates, there is always more work to be done. SafetyOn will continue to be data-led in our approach to ensuring the highest possible safety standards in the onshore wind sector are met.”

Dr Nick Wayth CEng FEI, CEO of the Energy Institute, the home of SafetyOn, commented:

“The removal of the de facto ban on onshore wind in the UK has opened up new opportunities to provide safe, clean and green energy to British consumers while supporting new jobs in the energy sector.

“SafetyOn does vital work identifying and addressing safety concerns on sites across the UK, and it’s good to see continued progress in 2024. As SafetyOn expands its remit to the Republic of Ireland, I’m confident that the team will continue to deliver higher standards for its members in a burgeoning industry.”

Based at the Energy Institute, this is the fifth iteration of the SafetyOn Incident Data report. New for 2025, SafetyOn is expanding its remit to the Republic of Ireland and is partnering with G+ to deliver a manual handling campaign.

Notes for editors

• SafetyOn brings together health and safety experts, professionals, and stakeholders to provide advice, share best practice, and create positive change in the onshore wind sector through incident data reporting, good practice guidelines, safe by design, and learning from shared incidents.
• For media enquiries, please contact Ruaraidh Swainson on 07702 583918 or rswainson@energyinst.org.
• The 2024 Incident Data Report can be viewed here: https://safetyon.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1650192/SafetyOn-2024-Incident-Data-Report.pdf
• SafetyOn is the health and safety organisation for the Onshore wind sector.
  Providing leadership in health and safety for the dynamic and innovative onshore wind industry, we ensure transparency about the industry's H&S performance, as well as assisting industry stakeholders to see that key emerging risks are mitigated through co-operation and shared learning.
  Working through the Energy Institute, we have established an open network of safety and health experts, professionals and stakeholders to promote a strong, sustainable and continually improving health and safety culture.
  Thousands are employed in the UK's onshore wind industry, and SafetyOn is playing a part in making sure they go home safe.
• The Energy Institute (EI) is the chartered professional membership body for people who work across the world of energy.
  Our purpose is creating a better energy future for our members and society by accelerating a just global transition.
  We do this by attracting and developing a diverse future energy workforce; convening expertise and evidence to inform energy decision making; and enabling industry to make energy safer, more efficient and lower carbon.