Did you know that there are nearly 70,000 wind turbines across the country? That generates enough clean energy to power 43 million American homes.
Wind power is a significant energy contributor worldwide. While this is good for the environment, that means there are plenty of wind turbine farms that need servicing.
People who work at wind farms run a high risk of receiving injuries. When this happens, you’re going to want to know what to do. That’s where we come in.
We’ll explain the various risks of injury when working on wind turbine farms. We’ll also explain what you should do in case a personal injury occurs. All you need to do to get the answers to your questions is keep reading.
What Are Wind Turbine Farms?
Wind turbine farms are also known as wind parks or wind power plants. This is a group of wind turbines in the same location designed to produce electricity.
Wind farms can vary from either only a few turbines to several hundred wind turbines spread over a large area. They can be located either onshore or offshore, making them a convenient way to gather energy.
Wind turbine farms require no fuel to run, making them a better choice for the environment when it comes to energy. Wind turbine designs are also constantly in progress. Each new design makes it more powerful, meaning fewer turbines are needed to power an area.
As efficient as wind turbine farms are, there are still some downsides to turning to wind farms as a source of green energy.
Wind farms are often criticized for the way they look, as well as their impact on the landscape. This is because wind turbines are usually spread out over more land than power stations have.
The need for land leads them to be built in rural and more ‘wild’ areas. Building in these areas causes habitat loss, industrialization of the countryside, and a loss in tourism in areas where wind turbines are.
Interestingly enough, wind turbine farms can also interfere with radar. However, this isn’t a very big concern to have. According to the US Department of Energy, being cautious about siting and using other measures resolves this issue and lets wind projects exist peacefully with radar.
Are Wind Farms Dangerous?
Many people believe that the sound wind turbines give off or the flickering of their shadows can cause health problems. The sickness that these people believe wind turbines cause is known as Wind Turbine Syndrome.
Wind Turbine Syndrome is a myth.
The sound of wind turbines, or the flicker from their shadows, has not been proven to be detrimental to a person’s health in any way. For that matter, wind turbines produce very little sound as long as they are sited correctly. A properly sited wind turbine will be about as loud as a refrigerator.
People also believe that wind turbines are bad for livestock and that wind turbines kill birds. While wind turbines do kill some birds, the number they kill is very low. Turbine-related bird death is incredibly unlikely to ever exceed the number of bird deaths caused by buildings – or, for that matter, house cats.
Lastly, wind turbines don’t present any risk to livestock. Land used for wind turbines is actually still often used for farming or livestock grazing!
Typically, livestock aren’t affected by wind turbines at all. You will even see livestock grazing along the base of the wind turbine from time to time.
Wind turbine farms pose no health risk to you. This means that wind farms are not dangerous. The only danger wind turbine farms pose is for the people who work on or near them.
Risks of Injury on Wind Turbine Farms
Wind turbine farms may not be dangerous to your health, but working on a wind turbine farm is potentially very dangerous. There are precautions in place as well as safety equipment to minimize injuries, but injuries still happen all the same.
The most common wind farm injuries are torn ligaments, whiplash, back or spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and amputated limbs. If you have been in a hazardous situation where you believe you have sustained an injury, it’s best to get an examination as soon as possible.
One of the most common dangers when working on wind farms is the risk of falling. This usually happens when installing the wind turbine. However, injuries can still be sustained from the safety equipment used to prevent falls.
A second common hazard of working around wind turbines is wind turbine failure. Although there are systems in place designed to protect you, it is still easy to get an electric shock from these due to the large amount of electricity wind turbines generate.
Electrical overload on wind turbines can lead to another dangerous situation – fire. A fire can also occur from unlubricated rotating blades. If an employee is working on a wind turbine when it catches fire, they may not be able to escape in time and sustain burns as a result.
Lastly, injuries sustained from moving parts are also very common. There’s a high chance that someone could get struck by a moving blade or smaller moving parts. If someone were to get struck or stuck in the gears, they could very easily be injured or even die.
What Should You Do After a Wind Farm Accident?
After a wind farm accident, you should report the accident to your supervisor as soon as possible. Most companies have a formal accident reporting procedure that you can and should follow. Next, make sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Keep a record of your injuries and treatment. In addition, write down exactly what happened during the accident as you can remember it. Make sure to get information from any witnesses who could have seen what happened.
Your employer may want to know what happened before, during, and after the accident. This is both so they can make sure protocol is being followed properly and so that they can get an idea of what occurred that led to the accident.
Last but certainly not least, you need to hire a wind farm accident attorney. Wind farm accident attorneys can help you with plenty of things. It is essential to have one that you can contact.
Why You Need a Wind Farm Accident Attorney
When you’ve been in a wind farm accident, hiring an attorney that specializes in it can be one of the best things you will do for yourself. Wind farm accident attorneys can help you with a variety of things so that you don’t need to worry about quite so much.
If you’ve sustained an injury, a wind farm accident attorney will help you sue for coverage for your medical care. They can help you make sure that your case is airtight so that you will get the money you need. In addition to making sure your medical bills are covered, an accident attorney will also help make sure you can still provide for your family.
Even if you are partially liable, it’s still possible for you to seek justice for any injuries sustained. Don’t accept what the company’s investigators decide when it comes to who was at fault for the accident. Choose a wind farm accident attorney to consult with.
Finding a wind farm accident attorney is easier than it might sound. All you need to do is ask the right questions while you search for one. Among the questions, you should ask are things such as finding out how good your case is and how much experience your attorney has.
There are plenty of attorneys you can choose from. If you want the best, however, look for a wind turbine injuries lawyer in Houston, Texas – specifically our company! Let Morgan Legal Group advocate for you.
When you’ve been through something that leads to you getting that injured, you shouldn’t have to struggle through the aftermath alone. Let an attorney help you get what you need.
Reach Out to Us
Now that you’ve heard about the risks of injury on wind turbine farms, you’re ready to take the next step. What that step is, however, depends on what you need.
Are you in need of a consultation? Do you have more questions to ask about wind turbine farms and injury laws?
If the answer to either of these is yes, you should reach out to us. We’ll answer any questions or concerns you might have as soon as possible.