Occupational health and safety risks during the construction of solar pv systems and suggesting training topics

Abstract

The installation of solar PV systems has led to a competitive market situation in recent years. Solar panels are being installed on a wide variety of sites and buildings. Companies are competing with each other to see who can do the job at a better price and who can do it in sometimes extreme conditions. Our work focuses on the dangers at height and how to avoid them. Workers, because of their lack of training, can often find themselves in situations that should result in a suspension from work by law or regulation, but without this knowledge, they can perform tasks that seriously endanger their health or their lives. Because the installation of solar PV systems is a relatively new industry, no two roofs are the same, and no two designs are the same. Thus, it is often only during installation that it becomes apparent that the work would require alpine engineering expertise, but employers, prioritising cost-effectiveness, fail to take this into account. This in turn puts the worker at risk, who is not aware of all the risk factors. We present the dangers of working at height with solar panels and propose a general training material that would make this field safer and, in so doing, significantly reduce the risks.