Story Highlight
- Health and safety are Ørsted’s top priority for Hornsea 3.
- Mental health and wellbeing are crucial for good decision making.
- Workshops with partners focused on best practices and challenges.
- Improved 4G connectivity supports offshore workers’ communication.
- Access to paid exercise time promotes physical safety and health.
Full Story
Ørsted has prioritised health and safety as a key focus for the Hornsea 3 project, which employs thousands both onshore and offshore daily. Phaedra Pritchard, the director of quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) for Hornsea 3, emphasised that health and safety encompasses not only physical safety but also mental health and wellbeing. “Good decisions are made at work when people are healthy and happy,” Phaedra stated, adding that part of the employer’s responsibility is to ensure that everyone returns home safely each day, which includes addressing mental health.
In response to these concerns, the project’s senior leadership has established a strategy focused on mental health and wellbeing, collaborating closely with suppliers. This strategy includes various initiatives such as face-to-face events, a monthly health and wellbeing calendar, podcasts, and team discussions aimed at embedding this focus within the culture of Hornsea 3.
The leadership team has conducted full-day workshops with the CEOs and COOs of major contract partners to share best practices and align on strategies. Additionally, an event was organised with QHSE leaders from partner companies to address the real-world challenges faced by technicians working offshore across construction, operations, and maintenance.
One significant outcome of these efforts was the enhancement of 4G wi-fi connectivity offshore, allowing workers to maintain stable contact with family and friends. The team also developed a calendar offering suggestions for small changes to lifestyle and routine, aimed at yielding substantial health benefits.
Furthermore, the project promotes mental health awareness through podcasts and team talks that cover topics such as emotional intelligence and resilience development. All individuals involved with Hornsea 3 are entitled to ‘Work Out for Work,’ providing one hour of paid time off for exercise each week.
Phaedra Pritchard remarked, “We believe a huge part of improving physical safety is through focusing on mental health and wellbeing. If we can create the space for people to make good, clear, informed decisions, we should be able to reduce the instances of human error involved in incidents.” She reiterated the commitment to raising awareness and ensuring that everyone working on Hornsea 3, including Ørsted employees and suppliers, has the necessary tools to perform at their best.
For more details, visit hornseaproject3.co.uk.
Source: read the original report.
What this means for your site
While the emphasis on mental health and wellbeing at Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 project is commendable, there are areas where proactive measures could further enhance safety and compliance. A more robust integration of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, particularly in risk assessments that factor in psychosocial risks alongside physical hazards, would strengthen their approach. Additionally, aligning with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers must ensure that adequate systems are in place for effective communication regarding safety protocols, especially in high-risk environments such as offshore work.
Concrete steps to enhance safety could include the implementation of regular mental health training for all staff, which would provide essential skills to identify and support colleagues in distress. Furthermore, establishing a formal reporting mechanism for mental health issues can create an atmosphere where employees feel safe to discuss and seek help for their concerns. This dual focus on mental and physical health is vital in minimising human error and ensuring that all personnel can contribute effectively to a safe work environment.
