My arm was sliced off by a wind turbine ‘like a guillotine’ – I’m haunted by horror moment & feel my identity is missing
AN ENGINEER dubbed “Mr Safety” said he is haunted by the horrific moment a wind turbine sliced off his arm.
Darren Hoadley’s life changed forever in June 2018 when a blade hacked off his left arm “like a guillotine” at Rentel offshore wind farm in the North Sea.
The 42-year-old specialist wind turbine installer was assessing parts in a “nacelle” pod, the system which activates the spinning motion, and was working close to the hub around which the blades turned.
Before disaster struck, Darren placed his arm through a gap in the turbine brake disc while checking a series of safety pins.
But the terrified engineer soon saw the turbine was still rotating slowing, forcing him to wait and watch in terror as a blade moved towards his trapped arm.
After the “traumatically” shocking amputation, Darren sued his employer, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd and took it to the High Court.
He claimed the accident would never have happened if he had known the power source which spins the turbine had not been switched off.
Mr “Safety” Hoadley, told the court: “I could easily see the lock from a hole in the disc, so I proceeded to check the lock by placing my left arm through the hole and check the lock.
“It was fine, but then I realised I could not move my arm. I then realised the disc was still moving slowly and I was going to lose my arm.”
Judge Richard Davison further described the circumstances and added: “Upon completion of the check, he could not retrieve his arm and he realised that the generator was moving, and he had no way to stop it.
“What then happened was that the stationary single blade mounting tool, immediately behind the brake disc, acted as a guillotine which traumatically amputated his left arm.”
Despite having his limb hacked off, Darren had the “courage and presence of mind” to quickly escape the pod, said the judge.
‘Key features of the accident’
The judge highlighted to the court Darren had assumed the power was turned off and the brake disc was “locked and immobilised”.
“He therefore thought he was safe in what he was doing, but both assumptions were incorrect,” the court heard.
“He did not realise his mistake until his arm was already trapped and it was too late to do anything about it,” the judge added.
However, Judge Davison also ruled Siemens Gamesa were at fault.
He told the court that previous technicians working in the same nightmare pod should have alerted Darren the power had been turned back on.
It was fine, but then I realised I could not move my arm. I then realised the disc was still moving slowly and I was going to lose my arm.”
Darren Hoadley
Instead, they activated it “without reinstating the chain and warning sign” which would have alerted Darren.
In addition, the nacelle door was left open which created a “false impression” the power was off.
It also obscured “vision of the control panel for the slow speed turning device”, explained the judge.
But, Darren was also blamed in part for the horrific accident as he did not carry out his own checks.
“On this occasion, he failed to live up to his reputation as ‘Mr Safety’,” the judge noted.
“He failed to involve his installation lead. He failed to plan.”
The court were also told how the engineer was working solo when he shouldn’t have been.
And, he had been isolated with no “second pair of eyes” to keep a check on what was happening.
“Lastly, he assumed what he should not have assumed without checking,” continued the judge.
The final verdict was reached and it was ruled Darren was one-third to blame for the gruesome amputation which means he will be paid two thirds of damages awarded.
Darren has claimed for £1million but the exact figure is set to be decided at a later date.
The judge also praised Siemens Gamesa for their handling of the accident and “immediate and effective reforms to their equipment and procedures.”
Looking to the future
Since the life-changing incident, Darren has continued to work and tackle his new challenges head on.
He said: “For a long time I felt as though part of my identity was missing.
“This haunted me for a while and I struggled with the uncertainty that flooded my future.”
Although the trauma left him feeling lost, he has gone through a series of safety and competence tests, including sea survival, helicopter rescue and working at heights.
The 42-year-old has even been back up a ladder, with adaptations made to his artificial limb, to help him get back to the career he loves.