In terms of the most common types of injuries suffered by wind turbines, a majority of wind-generated injuries are considered non-critical, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
The AWEA’s annual WindHealth report shows the percentage of wind turbines that sustain injuries has risen to nearly one-third, with the majority of those injuries being minor, which are categorized as non-serious.
The wind industry is increasingly facing increased risk as more turbines are installed, as well as the increased frequency of wind speeds and the development of wind farms.
AWEG President Dan Moller told reporters on Monday that wind-induced injuries have doubled over the last year and now account for nearly half of all wind-associated injuries reported by the industry.
In the past year, there have been over 3,000 wind-derived injuries reported, according the AWEB.
The numbers have increased significantly since the end of 2016, according Moller.
The AHEA says that the industry is now dealing with more injuries due to wind, which have risen to more than 1,000,000.
“Wind is an increasingly important component of our energy mix and is a key driver of economic activity, job creation and carbon emissions,” said AWE’s CEO Brian J. McFarland.
“With the increasing popularity of wind energy, the health and economic impact of these injuries is more critical than ever.
While the majority will require medical treatment, the most vulnerable are the wind turbine users who are the first line of defense against wind-driven illnesses.”
The AWE study shows that the average wind turbine injury is a 3.8-inch-long, 1.3-foot-wide, 0.6-foot thick skin fracture.
It’s possible that the injury might be worse for people with a larger fracture size, according AWE.
“Wind turbine injuries can be life-threatening, especially for those who have already suffered a fracture, such as the elderly and those with compromised immune systems,” the AHE study said.
A wind turbine is the most dangerous of all equipment in a wind farm, as it can produce as much as 3,800 times more energy than an average electric power plant.
A person who suffers a non-injury injury will require hospitalization for observation and may require extensive physical therapy.
A number of wind industry experts have said that the vast majority of injuries that wind turbines sustain are not related to wind speed or the wind’s speed.
The most common injuries are broken bones, concussions and other injuries that can lead to long-term brain damage, such a strokes, according a report by the ATEA.
Wind turbines have become more and more prevalent in the past few years, as the wind farm boom has seen a surge in the number of new turbines built.
The wind industry estimates that nearly 1.5 million wind turbines have been installed nationwide in 2017.
According to the ASEAN Energy Conference in Vietnam last week, wind turbines are now responsible for more than two-thirds of the country’s energy generation, with nearly half the wind turbines being installed in China.