Cedar Point wind project worker injured
By Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer
Saturday, August 29, 2015 2:13:31 EDT PM
Sections of a wind turbine sit waiting to be assembled on Aberarder Line earlier this month in Plympton-Wyoming, Ont. A worker involved in the 46-turbine Cedar Point wind project in Lambton County was taken to hospital following an incident Friday. Paul Morden/Sarnia Observer/Postmedia Network
Another worker has been injured during construction of the 46-turbine Cedar Point wind project being built in Lambton County for Suncor and NextEra.
Suncor spokesperson Nicole Fisher said in an e-mail that a contract worker was taken to hospital following an incident Friday, that happened at approximately 3 p.m.
Fisher said contractor Amec Foster Wheeler notified authorities of the incident and suspended non-critical construction work at the site while an investigation is conducted.
Tony McInally, a spokesperson for Amec Foster Wheeler, said Saturday the worker had been released from hospital and was recovering at home.
McInally would not provided information about the nature of the incident, or the worker's injuries.
"There is not a lot I can share with you, other than the Ministry of Labour was called, and they are investigating," he said.
McInally said Amec Foster Wheeler is also investigating.
"Our primary concern, obviously, is the health of the injured worker," McInally said.
"We're very happy that he has been released from hospital."
It is the second time this summer a worker on the construction project has been injured and taken to hospital.
On July 21, a Sentry Electrical worker fell from an elevated height inside a wind turbine shaft on Ravenswood Line. He was later released from hospital.
Following the incident, Ontario's Ministry of Labour issued 13 orders and requirements, including a stop-work order, for the project.
Construction resumed July 24.
Early last week, the ministry said in an e-mail Amec Foster Wheeler had complied with an order to protect workers from the hazards of heat stress and heat stroke while performing work inside wind turbines.
That order was issued following the July 21 incident.
The ministry also said all other orders issued following that earlier incident had been complied with.
"Amec Foster Wheeler's primary concern, as well as Suncor and Nextera, is the safety of our workers," McInally said.
"It's very alarming to us, and we are taking this very seriously, with regards to safety on the site."
McInally added, "Once we get the investigation complete, hopefully that will shed some light on what the issues have been, and what can we do to mitigate any of the problems going forward."
He said "tower work" was suspended at the site following Friday's incident.
"We anticipate that the site will be back to full operation within the next day or two."
The Cedar Point Wind project is located in Plympton-Wyoming, Lambton Shores and Warwick Township.
Suncor has said construction is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
///////////-----------------------/////////////
Suncor Energy Cedar Point Wind Power Project
Suncor is committed to increasing renewable energy generation in Canada and building best-in-class wind energy projects.
Suncor has been developing this project since signing the first agreement with a local landowner in 2005.
In July 2011, the Project was awarded a 100 MW, 20-year term power purchase contract with the Ontario government. Our Cedar Point Wind Power Project - located approximately 40 km north-east of Sarnia, Ontario - received a Renewable Energy Approval (REA) under the Ontario Green Energy Act from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on August 22, 2014.
The project was subject to an REA appeal before the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal which began on November 12, 2014 with closing arguments on February 19, 2015. On March 4, 2015, a decision was issued by the Environmental Review Tribunal and all appeals were dismissed.
In early 2015, Suncor announced that it had entered into a partnership agreement with affiliates of NextEra Energy Canada related to our Cedar Point Wind Power Project through a legal entity called the Cedar Point II Limited Partnership. Suncor is committed to continuing to work with the community throughout the life of the project.
Detailed information about our project can be found below.