Working in the wind turbine industry is an exciting way to participate in green energy initiatives. Many workers, however, can face serious hazards on the job that can lead to life-altering injury or death. Common hazards include increased fall risk, the risk of electric shock or arcing, and the risks associated with moving parts in the turbines, including crushing or slicing damage. When wind turbine workers suffer injury on the job, a workers’ comp claim can provide them with compensation for the damages they sustained.
Hazard #1: Falls
Workers in the wind turbine industry can end up at significant risk of falls as they climb onto and around the turbines to manage maintenance. Without adequate safety equipment, or if safety equipment fails, wind turbine workers can fall devastating distances. Working on wind turbines often requires workers to climb to significant heights, relying on their safety equipment to prevent serious injury. When workers fall, they can suffer serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries and brain injuries. Falls also have a high risk of resulting in death.
Even falls at a shorter distance, including falls within the turbine, can result in severe injury. Workers should always use necessary safety equipment and follow required protocols in order to reduce the risk of falls.
Hazard #2: Arc Flash Damage
Wind turbines, like other electrical facilities, have a risk of electrical arcing. An arc flash occurs when a fault or short circuit occurs in the installation. It can result from:
- Lack of insulation
- Contamination
- Underrated equipment that cannot handle the electrical current
An arc flash releases huge amounts of energy all at the same time, with extremely hot temperatures. These temperatures, which can be hotter than the surface of the sun, can be fatal to anyone in range at the time of the incident. They may also result in superheated equipment that can cause further injury to others in the surrounding area. Arc flashes can increase the risk of falls, throw workers into walls and equipment, or result in a sound blast that can cause hearing damage.
Most often, arc flashes occur due to electrical equipment failure or because the worker fails to take adequate precautions when working on the equipment. An arc flash in a wind turbine can prove particularly devastating because wind turbines are often located in isolated areas, which means it may take longer for help to arrive. Isolated workers may also suffer injuries in an arc flash without anyone else being aware of the emergency.
Hazard #3: Electrical Burns
Workers in wind farms may use equipment that brings them up high enough to contact power lines in the area. OSHA guidelines recommend that workers stay at least 10 feet away from power lines, which can cause severe injury or death in the case of burns. Workers in wind farms can also work with electrical equipment that has a high risk of causing electrical burns.
Electrical burns not only cause surface damage similar to heat burns but can cause internal damage, including damage to internal organs or the brain. Electrical burns can also impact nerves and muscles below the surface of the injury and throughout the body. The severity of the burns can depend on the strength of the electrical current and the duration of the exposure.
Hazard #4: Heat Burns
When electric currents overload the equipment in a wind turbine, it can lead to fires. Workers in or around the wind turbine can suffer heat burns before the fire is put out. Furthermore, employees working on a wind turbine when a fire breaks out can have a hard time escaping the turbine before the fire spreads, due to limited exits.
Heat burns cause significant pain and the potential for disfigurement, and workers have a high risk of infection and complication. Recovery from heat burns can take significant time, during which the injured worker cannot take on normal job duties due to the risk of worsening those injuries. Burns often prove highly expensive to treat due to the need to stay in a burn unit following those injuries.
Hazard #5: Moving Parts
Wind turbines rely on a constant system of rotation in order to generate electrical power. Moving blades and gears throughout the turbine can pose a serious hazard to those workers who do not take adequate safety precautions. They can cause impact damage, including broken bones and crushing injuries. A blow to the head, particularly from a large blade, can lead to traumatic brain injury or death.
Within the turbine, smaller moving parts and gears can also pose a risk of crushing injury. Workers can get body parts or clothing stuck between moving parts, leading to broken bones, permanent loss of mobility, amputation, or death.
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim After a Wind Turbine Injury
When workers suffer an injury on the job in the wind turbine industry, they can start by filing a workers’ comp claim. Workers’ compensation provides financial assistance for workers injured on the job. Not only does it pay directly for any medical bills associated with workplace accidents, but it also pays out a percentage of the injured party’s income, generally around two-thirds of their income prior to the incident, while they recover.
Filing a workers’ comp claim can prove more difficult than some workers think. Working with a workers’ comp attorney ensures that wind turbine workers have the support they need to move forward with a comprehensive claim and that they know and understand all their rights.
In addition to workers’ comp claims, workers in the wind turbine industry who suffer injuries due to negligence on the part of their employers may have the right to file a personal injury claim. Personal injury claims can help offset some of the financial losses that go along with serious injuries, including future income losses, home modifications, and ongoing medical needs.
