The people operating and maintaining a wind turbine need to do so safely. Batteries, electrical equipment and moving turbine blades are all potential dangers. The turbine operator needs to plan for the safety of the general public as well as staff and contractors working on a turbine.

One specific issue is the risk of a turbine blade breaking off and causing an injury. Although the risk is small, the consequences could be very serious. The proximity to dwellings will tend to limit the size of turbine that gets installed because of noise and visual intrusion. A smaller turbine will also be a smaller hazard in terms of bits breaking off and hurting someone.

A lightning strike may cause damage to a wind turbine, and this issue should be addressed too. Shut-down during electrical storms may be a sensible precaution.

A new wind turbine may also attract vandals. Fencing and CCTV may be enough to deter them but, if not, then mounting a turbine on a roof may prove an effective way to prevent vandalism.