Energy Projects with Román Serra Sánchez, Health, Safety and Environment Manager.
Could you tell us about your background, how long you have been with WElink and what changes or advancements in health and safety have you observed within the company over the years?
I graduated as an Agricultural Engineer, my professional activity has always been related to the construction, industrial and electrical sector, with various roles in both engineering and construction and in quality, safety, health and environment. I started working at WElink in 2019 and during this time I have participated in the development and construction of large renewable energy projects, in the coordination of health and safety and in the management of the necessary permits for construction and commissioning.
The Group´s aspiration is: zero work related injuries and illnesses, limiting defects or damage to equipment and assets and to minimise its environmental impact, so from the beginning there has always been a commitment of the company’s management to health and safety at work until the current moment in which I would highlight that a project management software is being implemented based on activities and flows that always start with the approval of safe working methods and risk analysis, that is, placing safety at work at the beginning of all processes.
What specific precautions and processes does WElink implement to safeguard the health and safety of workers on renewable energy sites, such as solar farms or wind installations?
Beyond legal compliance, WElink applies a health and safety management system at its sites that is based on the establishment of access criteria, the initial training of participants to deliver our own occupational safety specifications that WE considered a must have conditions, WE promote and support the health and safety technicians working with us and those of the contractors. The aim is to avoid excessive bureaucracy by implementing a simple and practical management system based on the drafting, approval and application of working procedures. It is about to involve project participants in the drafting of these procedures as a necessary condition before starting any activity.
Are there any unique health and safety challenges in renewable energy projects compared to other industries, and how does WElink address them?
These renewable energy projects have the particularity that they are developed on very large areas of land, sometimes with difficult access and exposure to extreme climate and with long journeys of vehicles and workers, it is about work that may involve the handling of very heavy or very large loads requiring transport planning and detailed lifting plans. These are activities that present special risks such as electrical hazards or work at height as in high-voltage overhead lines or wind turbines assembly. WElink is involved in the development, engineering supervision, project management and the operation and maintenance of these high voltage installations, so WElink attaches great importance to the establishment of organisational measures, planning the work in advance; engineering measures and in a nutshell, the study of the details of the different activities to integrate safety measures into the processes.
Could you share insights into the training programs or safety initiatives WElink offers to ensure employees and contractors are fully equipped to manage potential risks?
Training is a key aspect for all project participants. The company develops training activities for all personnel on the risks of their jobs, on emergency measures and on first aid. Specific training activities are developed for technicians, supervisors and engineers for the prevention of electrical risk to perform tasks safely and competently.
WElink has a health and safety action plan that is updated periodically, where preventive activity is planned. This plan details organisational measures that include actions such as risk assessment by workplaces, evaluation of workplaces, specific risk assessments, training of workers when they join the company as part of the onboarding process, continuous training according to needs, health medical checks, consultation and participation of workers and stakeholders, and coordination of preventive activities with contractors and stakeholders.
How does WElink ensure compliance with health and safety standards throughout the various phases of renewable energy projects, from planning and construction to operation and maintenance?
In each phase of the project cycle, WElink uses several tools: during the development of a project, safety studies, risk assessment and the identification of legal and regulatory requirements are important; during the construction phase, the safety plan and emergency plan are developed; during operation and maintenance, safe working procedures are worked out, which may involve, for example, disconnecting electrical installations; finally, the risks and operations to be carried out safely at the time of decommissioning of the installations at the end of their useful life are also analysed.
Has WElink integrated any advanced technologies or innovative practices to improve health and safety measures? If so, could you provide some examples?
I mentioned at the beginning of this interview that WElink is currently implementing a management software for the development of projects that will allow an almost real-time monitoring of the planned planning, cost control, construction monitoring and the integration of health and safety in the construction process so that the exchange of the information generated, the result of the safety inspections and the incidents that may occur, are immediately known by the participating parties, whether they are the developer, the project management, the contractors, engineers and supervisors, those responsible for the project. I believe that this will improve health and safety monitoring and the quality and sustainability of projects.
From an investor’s standpoint, how does WElink’s focus on health and safety enhance the company’s reputation, operational efficiency, and risk management strategy?
WElink believes that investing in health and safety creates value for the company from a financial and strategic point of view. Committing to and focusing on the health, safety and well-being of workers not only reduces direct risks to the company and employees, but has benefits for everyone, for workers and for society, the company is more efficient and competitive and finally, the reputation of the company as an organisation is enhanced.
