Two 32-year-old men have fallen to their death at a wind farm under construction near the German city of Frankfurt, after a work platform within one of the turbine towers collapsed.
According to a report from the local police of Southeast Hesse, who responded to the accident early on the morning of Wednesday 25, the two men had been in a work platform or “basket” within the upper section of a wind turbine tower when the platform fell from beneath them “for reasons still unknown”.
The police reported that the men “were apparently killed instantly” and that “any medical assistance came too late”.
Other workers at the construction site reportedly heard the loud impact of the work basket’s collapse before calling the police at around 4:45 am.
Police investigations into the cause of the accident were already underway last week, and an independent expert will also attempt to piece together the exact sequence of events and cause of the accident.
The wind farm is being built near the federal highway between the districts of Fischborn and Wüstwillenroth with a planned capacity of 86 megawatts (MW). The wind farm is reportedly being developed by Hesse Energie and will consist of nine Vestas 172 turbines on towers supplied by German construction company Max Bögl.
The two men were reportedly employees of a subcontractor of Max Bögl.
In statements to the media, both Max Bögl and Vestas expressed their sadness at the incident and concern for the families, friends, and colleagues of the two deceased.
A spokesperson for Max Bögl added that an investigation will be undertaken by its internal health, safety, and environment (HSE) specialists, in addition to the police and independent expert’s investigations.
“We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the affected persons at this difficult time,” added a Vestas spokesperson.
“Vestas is working together with Max Bögl, the sub-contractor and the authorities to determine the root cause of the accident.”
