Case Study
Reduced exposure and increased performance for Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturer
The Client
A world-leading manufacturer of wind turbine blades.
The Problem
Wind turbine blades are produced from glass reinforced plastic
(GRP). The GRP manufacturing process has been established for a
number of years, and although it is a relatively simple process,
worker exposure to the solvent (styrene) vapour, which is evolved
from the process, is notoriously difficult to control. The size of
the article being manufactured can increase exposure to
styrene.
This is particularly pertinent for wind turbine
blades as they can be up to 90 metres in length.
As a responsible employer, the manufacturer had already devoted
considerable effort to ensuring worker exposure to styrene was
minimised, however they required additional expertise to establish
whether conditions were compliant with the regulatory requirements
and whether any additional improvements could be made. It was this
independent expert advice that HSL were asked to provide.
What We Did
Outcome/Benefits
The manufacturer was able to take steps
to make improvements in the workplace which subsequently improved
worker performance. As a direct consequence of this work, the
Company have experienced:
- Improved product quality
- Fewer mistakes and a reduction in production costs
Increasing the knowledge of their level of compliance with
H&S legislation for country of operation has:
- Reduced the risk of enforcement action
- Reduced the risk of civil claim
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