The hot summer months bring a unique set of health and safety challenges for solar installers to consider, writes Nathan Smith, technical program specialist at the Clean Energy Council.
Workplace health and safety is a topic that demands our utmost attention. Those of us who work in the electrical industry are trained from day one of our apprenticeships to consider our safety and the safety of those around us.
We are dependent on adequate safety measures for our continued welfare, and we take on legal obligations to consider the safety of people and property as we work, and once we have completed our jobs and left site.
The consequences of failing to meet these legislated requirements range from significant financial and criminal charges to worst-case scenarios of severe injury, permanent disability or death. Appropriate control measures ensure the safety of ourselves, our workmates, people sharing the jobsite, our customers and members of the public.
Considering the risks associated with our role in the solar industry, it makes sense we take utmost care in the way we undertake our work. Falls from height and electrocution are, by nature, risks we need to control. As such, we operate with very robust control measures every day onsite.
Summer-specific safety
With climate change exacerbating weather conditions and leading to an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, it is important to remember the measures we take for a standard solar or battery installation aren’t always going to address the risks present on every site or under all conditions.
We are currently in the hottest months of the year in Australia and are still clearing up after months of record-breaking floods. While the longer days and clearer weather can make it a lot more enjoyable to work outside, it’s important to remember changing weather conditions can pose hazards we may not have to deal with every day.
How we recognise and control these hazards may not be immediately obvious.
Moving into summer, it is important installers account for warmer temperatures and higher levels of UV radiation. When compared to falling from a wet and slippery roof, “being a bit hot” or getting sunburnt might seem somewhat insignificant. However, these changes to weather and how they affect working conditions should be considered.
Heatwaves and summer conditions may pose the following risks to installers:
- Dehydration, sunburn or heatstroke.
- Fatigue and poor concentration due to a lack of sleep on warm nights.
- Increased ambient temperatures inside roof cavities.
- Direct and reflected sun leading to high rooftop temperatures.
- Array components and tools becoming uncomfortably hot.
Solar installers can often demand an attitude of “getting the job done”, however simply pushing through can pose serious risks to your health. The long-term effects from consistent exposure to high temperatures can cause long-lasting damage to the body’s organs. It is also well known that regular or repeated sunburn can contribute to the risk of skin cancer.
Managing risks
In an effort to mitigate risk, installers may want to implement some or all of the following controls:
- Closely monitoring weather conditions.
- Calling off work at a pre-designated temperature.
- Ensuring workers have access to shade and cool, fresh water.
- Taking frequent short breaks to ensure core body temperatures stay as low as possible.
- Scheduling jobs to start earlier in the day when temperatures are at their lowest.
- Ensuring parts of the job that involve access to the roof and roof space are completed in the morning before it gets too hot.
Workplace health and safety regulators have begun to take a greater role in supporting workers to comply with relevant regulations. There may be advice and/or financial support available to assist in ensuring you are working in a safe manner.
For more information on schemes available in your jurisdiction, check out the Clean Energy Council’s website or reach out to your local workplace health and safety authority.
Nothing is worth your health
December is a very busy time of year for trades. Everyone wants their job finished before the Christmas holidays and the pressure to meet customers’ expectations can be immense.
Installers can be pushed to get more work done in hot conditions that are not conducive to the intense physical nature of work in the solar industry. Increasing our workload during these times can significantly escalate the risk of a workplace incident. Instead, we should give ourselves more time to complete installations.
It is well documented that our concentration at work is compromised in the lead up to a holiday and when we return to work after a break. This is evidenced in workplace accidents, which see a spike before and after time away from work.
Ensuring you and your team have enough time to safely complete installations is critical in ensuring their wellbeing. The unfortunate reality is installations that would usually take one day may need to be scheduled across multiple days in summer to ensure working conditions are suitable.
During a time of year when we are reminded of the importance of family, friends and community, ensuring we work in a safe manner is vital to making sure everyone gets to enjoy their summer break.
We all deserve to go home safe at the end of the day.