Projects
Independent arc flash risk assessment
RenewablesHaving evidence that your product is safe can be of paramount importance to a client.
When Pegasus Welfare Solutions had to prove they had assessed and addressed any risks associated with their units in a particular environment, they turned to Marex for support.
The story of Pegasus Welfare Solutions
Pegasus Welfare Solutions Ltd (PWS) is a UK-based company established in May 2017 as a provider of portable welfare solutions to the energy and construction industries.
They are the only industry certified supplier of crane-able welfare units. These units are tested and certified for use in different environments including offshore oil & gas, renewables, military environments and high-rise buildings.
The challenge of providing a compelling risk assessment
PWS intended to have their in-tower turbine welfare units installed on fixed wind turbines at an offshore wind farm off the UK coast.
However, the company was challenged by the client to demonstrate that the installation of the welfare units would not increase the risk of arc flash within the wind turbine structure.
An arc flash is a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to the ground.
The results are often violent and when a human is in close proximity to the arc flash, serious injury and even death can occur.
In Great Britain, the obligation is for employers to comply with the general duties placed upon them by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; that is, to make sure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, persons are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.
Further to these general duties, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires that each employer should make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of employees and others affected by company operations.
Electrical hazards are specifically addressed within the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
PWS therefore required a sufficient risk assessment to be completed to consider this hazard.
This was seen as a key task in being able to demonstrate to the client, and future clients, that the units are appropriately designed and that appropriate measures are taken during the installation phase to minimise this risk of arc flash.
Why PWS chose Marex
In 2021, we took part in the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership’s flagship WEST business transformation support programme.
Through this, we established a number of contacts in the offshore wind sector, one of whom introduced us to PWS as a company that could support them with the work scope that had been requested by their client.
Through many years of supporting clients across a range of highly regulated sectors, Marex could demonstrate to PWS that we had the sufficient experience and expertise to be able to deliver a robust risk assessment on the arc flash hazard.
How Marex responded
Using all available information on the construction of the welfare units and their proposed locations, Marex risk consultants - with support from an electrical engineering discipline – completed and documented an independent hazard identification (HAZID) study.
The objective of the study was to identify the potential causes of the hazardous event of arc flash and to consider the existing safeguards in place.
Where existing safeguards were not considered to be sufficient, based upon the assessment of the hazardous event probability and potential consequences, recommendations were made for further risk reduction measures.
The results
The assessment concluded that the installation of the welfare units presented a negligible risk of arc flash and that, provided that due consideration was given to the recommendations for further risk reduction, risks would be maintained as low as reasonably practicable.
The report of the independent third-party risk assessment provided PWS with the evidence requested by their client to support the installation of their welfare units within the wind turbine structures.
- Get in touch to find out how we can assist you with providing independent risk management solutions to support the roll-out of any of your products to your customers.
Wayne Henderson Managing director
Company Registration 00793999
MAREX
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Riverside Drive
Aberdeen, AB11 7LH
