A wind farm site with collapsed cranes leads to unplanned repair costs and project delays. Furthermore, damaged wind turbine parts can disrupt crucial operations on the farm. In addition to damaged cranes and turbines, there is a risk of injuries to workers.

Rugged grounds, strong winds and other factors common in wind farms make them potentially risky for cranes. Besides instituting safe crane operations, you need to pay attention to unique crane risks while operating them from pad to pad.  The following are four essential tips while working with cranes in wind farm sites. 

Train Your Workers in Specialised Rigging

Rigging accidents at wind farm sites can potentially cause grave damages and serious injuries. Besides, rigging operations are high-risk operations involving lifting long and heavy turbines and hence require specialised training. Thus, it's crucial that the riggers follow the crane manufacturer's instructions and rigging drawings during the lift plans. Other risks during this process involve falling objects that can potentially crush the ground crew. 

Current Lift Plans Must Address Potential Risks on the Wind Farm

The lift plans on the wind farm have unique hazards that crane operators must consider, such as strong winds. The condition and strength of winds can be erratic and may lead to dangerous situations. Thus, it's vital to design lift plans that address the potential conditions at the wind farm as well as strict adherence to manufacturer's specifications and warnings. Additionally, operators should consider each lift as new and resist any complacency while reviewing every site pad's conditions carefully.

Keep Track of Weather Conditions

Severe weather conditions can prove risky on a wind farm facility. Strong winds and storms can be catastrophic to the installed equipment and cause injury to workers. Thus, it's recommended to install weather monitoring equipment on site. In addition, train all workers on how to secure cranes and other equipment. Furthermore, they should understand the safety protocols to follow during severe weather conditions. Take some courses on how to prepare your wind farm to withstand dangerous weather conditions. 

Use Extra Caution During Crane Disassembly 

The huge wind farm dimensions can make it difficult to navigate fully erected cranes between pads. Also, most people overlook the inherent risks of crane assembly and disassembly. For instance, when pins are removed and assembled in the wrong order, operators may risk injuries. Furthermore, moving disassembled cranes on trucks require due diligence such as acquiring proper permits, safely securing loads and using qualified and licensed drivers. 

Conclusion

These are the four safety tips you should consider when handling wind farming cranes. Following them to the later ensures you workers and property remain safe and secured all the time.