Photovoltaic panel installers work too hard

How dangerous is a photovoltaic installation?

Safety risks and mitigation measures Falls from elevated surfaces are the most significant contributing occupational hazard to fatalities in the construction industry (Dong et al., 2019, U.S. Department of Labor, 1990). Photovoltaic installations performed on elevated working surfaces expose installers to the risk of falling from dangerous heights.

Should you install solar panels on your home?

Installing solar panels on your home can significantly lower your electricity bills over time and help you live more sustainably. It’s one of the best decisions homeowners can make both for the environment and their property value. Professional solar installation companies typically install solar panels.

Are there occupational safety risks associated with solar PV installation?

An obstacle to solar PV growth is the severity of the occupational safety risks associated with their installation. Although PV installers are known to experience some of the most significant and widespread construction-related occupational safety risks, PV installer accident investigation research, reporting, and verification are limited.

Are photovoltaic installers exposed to HRIS?

Photovoltaic installers are exposed to HRIs from working in hot temperatures for prolonged periods. Solar panels are typically installed in geographic locations with high sun and heat exposure (Hanson & Thatcher, 2020) due to energy density and higher financial rates of return on investment, thus increasing the risk of HRIs.

Are solar installers exposed to a fall accident?

Although there is a lack of formalized reporting and verification of solar worker fall accident data, it is clear that most residential and commercial solar installers are exposed to the risk factors clarified in the previous paragraph.

Are solar installations safe?

A major finding in this review was that most of the previous and current research literature on PV installation safety focuses on the electrical and fire safety realm. Relatively fewer papers conducted risk mitigation research on fall accidents, manual handling risks, and heat stress within the solar industry in detail.