Introduction to Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is a vital component of the global energy mix, providing a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Among the various renewable sources, wind energy stands out as a key player. Wind turbines harness the kinetic energy of the wind to generate electricity, making wind power a clean and efficient way to produce energy. The wind industry has seen significant growth in recent years, with wind farms being installed both onshore and offshore around the world. This expansion is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. By using aerodynamic force, wind turbines convert wind energy into electrical energy, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.
Wind Turbine, Wind Turbine Accidents
Did you know that there are approximately 70,000 wind turbines across the continental US?
Wind turbines provide renewable energy that reduces our reliance on coal and oil. They often have a minimal environmental impact when compared to competing options. But despite all their pluses, wind turbines aren’t without fault.
Wind turbine installation risks pose a major threat to construction workers who erect them. These are large, expensive pieces of machinery. They require specialized installation, which may lead to injuries or even death.
If you work building a wind farm or plan to, know the risks the industry poses. Keep reading as we discuss what things construction workers should be on the lookout for when building wind turbines
What Are the Parts of a Wind Turbine?
A wind turbine has three basic components:
The tower: a steel tube that contains a ladder, allowing wind turbines to reach higher wind currents
The rotor: the machine that converts wind energy into electricity, with the main shaft connecting the rotor to the gearbox, ensuring efficient energy conversion
The blades: these are the propeller-like blades that generate lift from the wind and in turn create electricity. The nacelle houses essential machinery like the gearbox and generator, highlighting its significant size and weight
There are many different kinds of wind turbines, but we’ll focus on the most common ones. These are the large towers you might see on a wind farm, which make up the bulk of US wind turbines
Types of Wind Turbines
Wind turbines come in two basic types: horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). HAWTs are the most common, featuring three blades that rotate around a horizontal axis. These turbines are typically seen in large wind farms and are known for their efficiency in capturing wind energy. On the other hand, VAWTs have a vertical rotor shaft and are omnidirectional, meaning they can capture wind from any direction. This makes them versatile for various applications, including urban environments. The choice between HAWTs and VAWTs depends on factors such as wind speeds, turbine blades, and the intended use of the generated wind energy. Both types play a crucial role in harnessing wind power to produce electricity.
How Does a Wind Turbine Work?
In order to make renewable energy, engineers must find creative ways to harness naturally occurring resources. Renewable resources, as the name implies, can be renewed and don’t run out. The wind is one of these resources.
To convert wind into electricity, engineers use the same principle as hydroelectric or nuclear. They spin a rotor, which generates electricity via a coil. This electricity does not require burning harmful fossil fuels into the atmosphere.
A wind turbine uses the same principle as an airplane to generate electricity. The air passes by the rotor blades and their foils. Wind direction affects the orientation of the turbines for optimal performance, ensuring they face into the wind.
Thanks to lift, the rotor blades spin. The spin of the blade turns the turbine, which generates clean electricity. The yaw system, including yaw motors and drives, maintains the turbine’s alignment with the wind, optimizing energy capture. The wind farm then sends the accumulated energy to a substation, where it becomes part of the grid.
How Do Construction Workers Build Wind Turbines?
Before you build a wind turbine, you have to choose the ideal location. This is a tricky science that involves selecting land that has some of the following characteristics:
Consistent wind speed of at least 15.5 MPH
An open area that isn’t obstructed by buildings or trees
A valley or mountainous area which concentrates wind flow
Close to the grid to reduce loss of power in transmission
A place that provides all the necessary permits to build a wind farm
Once this is established, construction on wind turbines may begin. The first phase of offshore wind farm development involves ensuring project viability, conducting feasibility studies, and managing stakeholder involvement, alongside necessary environmental planning and permits. Construction tends to happen with the following steps:
Tower construction: to install the tower, operators use a crane to lower it into place and bolt it onto a concrete pad, addressing technical challenges such as stability and alignment
Raising the nacelle and rotor: the assembled rotor is lifted onto the top and bolted into place
Bolting on the blades: wind turbine blades are huge and require careful placement and attachment
Wind Turbine Installation Risks
Unfortunately, there are significant risks when installing a wind turbine. The most obvious among these is the height; construction workers often work suspended high above the ground.
Second, they are working with heavy machinery and parts. Reducing friction between moving parts in wind turbines, such as the rotor bearing and main shaft bearing, is crucial for their functionality and efficiency. These parts weigh tons and tons, presenting a risk if operators are not careful during assembly.
Last but not least, these are heavy parts suspended high above the ground. If not secured properly before raising them up, they can come crashing down. The bolts necessary to secure these parts can also fall and cause serious injuries.
Common Wind Turbine Accidents
Common accidents include the following:
A fall from a significant height due to improper belay procedures
A fall from the internal ladder due to issues with the safety harness
Collisions with components, resulting in blunt force trauma, broken bones, and concussions
Risks associated with the turbine’s blades, such as improper handling or adjustment, which can lead to severe injuries
Fingers or limbs crushed by heavy equipment
Accidents related to crane operation
Being struck by falling mechanical components used to secure the tower, rotor, or blades
Suffering electric shocks while dealing with high voltage
These accidents can occur as a result of operator negligence, or faulty equipment. In some rare cases, they can result from the poor judgment of the construction workers themselves.
Whatever the case, even in the event that it’s your fault, the construction company owes you worker’s compensation. You may suffer life-changing injuries that leave you with costly medical expenses. You’ve risked your life to provide value to this company, and it’s the ethical thing to do for them to rehabilitate you.
But the sad reality is that companies may do everything in their power to avoid compensating you. You may be forced to contact an attorney to sue for damages.
Worker Safety
Worker safety is a top priority in the wind industry, especially for wind turbine technicians and construction workers who face unique hazards on the job. The construction phase of wind farm installation can be particularly hazardous, with risks including falls from significant heights, electrical shocks, and equipment malfunctions. To ensure safety, wind turbine manufacturers and operators must provide proper training and equip workers with the necessary tools and personal protective equipment (PPE). Regular maintenance and inspection of wind turbines are also crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring the safe operation of wind farms. Adhering to safety protocols and using PPE can significantly minimize the risk of injury or illness in the wind industry.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is a critical component of wind farm development and operation. Potential risks include environmental impacts, technical failures, and economic uncertainties. Wind farm operators must conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards and develop strategies for mitigating them. This process involves evaluating factors such as wind speeds, turbine blades, and environmental conditions to determine the likelihood and potential impact of adverse events. Risk assessment is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and evaluation of wind farm operations to ensure the safe and efficient generation of wind energy. Advanced technologies, such as condition monitoring systems, can help operators identify potential risks and take proactive measures to mitigate them.
Mitigating Risks
Mitigating risks is essential for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of wind farms. Strategies include regular maintenance, inspection, and repair of wind turbines. Wind farm operators must develop and implement comprehensive risk management plans to identify and mitigate potential hazards. The use of redundant systems and backup power sources can help minimize the risk of technical failures and ensure continuous operation of wind turbines. Collaboration with stakeholders, including local communities and regulatory agencies, is critical for addressing concerns and mitigating risks associated with wind farm development and operation. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of wind farm performance are necessary for identifying areas for improvement and implementing measures to mitigate risks and optimize wind energy production.
Why You Should Get Legal Assistance if Injured in Wind Turbine Installation
You may believe that your company can do you no wrong. Hopefully that ends up being the case. However, every business has a bottom line, and that bottom line suffers when they make payouts to injured employees who cannot work.
Businesses, unfortunately, have every incentive to pay you the smallest amount possible. You should not go into these disputes alone. Remember, the law is on your side and favors workers’ rights over the company.
Let’s discuss the reasons why you need a wind turbines injuries lawyer following an injury. Workers in offshore wind farms face unique complexities and challenges, including harsh maritime conditions and evolving technology in both fixed and floating foundations.
The Internal Investigation Will Likely Go Against You
Companies have their own internal investigators whose job is to evaluate accidents for liability. This is an official that is bought and paid for by the company, meaning their interests will be aligned with the company. They will conduct an investigation and view everything through the lens of reducing liability. It is crucial to preserve evidence related to the construction process and the materials used to ensure a fair assessment.
As a result, they may provide an unfavorable verdict. They may deem that you alone are responsible for your injuries. That, or they may offer a meager payout that does not cover your costs.
A lawyer can fight this decision and threaten legal action if they don’t comply. They can conduct their own investigation and determine where the fault really lies.
Evidence Necessary for Compensation May Disappear
In the process of righting the wrongs, companies may obscure or remove evidence. They may not preserve the documentation that details how and why you were injured. This can make it difficult to proceed with claims. Documenting the installation process and the use of specific materials is crucial to ensure that all relevant information is available.
Attorneys can interfere with this chicanery, ensuring that evidence is preserved. That makes it easier to make your claim during subsequent investigations such as with OSHA
You May Be Able to Sue Other Companies Responsible for Your Injuries
In some cases, the equipment that failed is to blame for the injuries. There was no negligence or ill intention as far as your company is concerned. Faulty equipment may appear to be in excellent working condition only to fail without warning.
A responsible third party is just as responsible as your employer for damages. For example, a company that supplies rope for belaying must pay damages if their rope broke before reaching its weight limit. The same applies to components of the wind turbine that fail prematurely. For instance, if the generator within the turbine’s drivetrain fails due to poor maintenance, it can lead to significant damages and liability.
With legal help, you may be able to secure more compensation than if you sued the company alone.
You May Require Extensive Recovery
The injuries from a wind turbine accident are often severe. They may leave you with debilitating wounds that take a long time to heal or require extensive surgeries. These surgeries likely won’t be covered by an insurance provider. The turbine’s generator and the main shaft play crucial roles in energy conversion, much like how critical components in the human body need proper care and recovery.
Worker’s compensation may cover the surgery, but will it cover the recovery?
Serious injuries can often rob a person of their basic functions, like walking or taking care of oneself. Most can return to full function after the fact, but this can take weeks or months. This means hiring physical therapists to help you relearn to walk or perform other functions.
Attorneys can ensure you get enough compensation to get you through all stages of recovery.
You May Lose Wages
Another factor to consider is that you won’t be able to work during the time you’re injured and recovering. This is known as lost wages. While you may have compensation for your injuries, you still require the money to pay your bills and afford food.
Lost wages often don’t make it into the equation, making you effectively unemployed. You may be forced to find work-from-home solutions outside your industry. This means that when you should be resting and recovering, you’ll be working. Just as a wind generator converts wind into electricity, optimizing energy capture through the yaw system, you need to optimize your recovery time to regain your full health.
If you require extensive visits to the hospital or physical therapist, you simply cannot work. It’s for these reasons that having lost wages compensated is so important. This allows you to focus on recovery until you’re ready to return to the job.
Contact an Attorney Today
Wind turbine installation risks can be huge and may leave you with devastating injuries. Your company may drag its feet in providing worker’s compensation and may play underhanded to give you a smaller payout. Offshore wind turbines, with their complex construction and material challenges, particularly in harsh marine conditions, add another layer of difficulty, making proper legal assistance crucial. With the help of an attorney, you can ensure you get the highest payout possible and the justice you deserve.
Morgan Legal Group specializes in wind farm injuries in Houston, Texas. We’ve fought and won many cases, and we’d love to fight your case as well. and get a free consultation.
