A leading wind tower company is facing steep penalties after an improperly secured hook injured an employee.
Arcosa Wind Towers, a Texas-based wind tower manufacturer with a plant in Belen, was hit with a $14,898 penalty in May for an incident that happened in November 2024. The company specializes in constructing steel towers and their components that support wind turbines across the continent.
State records show that in November, a worker was seriously hurt when a lifting device was accidentally moved, causing an unbalanced j-hook (used for lifting large objects like towers) to shift and fall. According to state inspectors, the company violated safety regulations by failing to make sure the lifting equipment was safely locked in place.
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) also dropped a $12,663 penalty on Arcosa Towers for failing to ensure that workers were wearing safety goggles while arc welding was being performed in the immediate area. While no injury was reported, failing to wear safety goggles can lead to the loss of an eye.
Inspectors also dinged the wind company for exposing employees to tripping hazards when they found numerous hoses that had been left on the warehouse floor.
