Solar systems are now a must for every commercial building, but little thought is ever given to access during and after installation
Solar systems are great. There would be precious few people that would argue the opposite.
As the world is evolving and solar power is becoming an increasingly important part of a building’s design, the need to ensure they can be safely installed and accessed for maintenance is key.
Unfortunately, this is commonly found to be one aspect of solar panel installation that is left by the wayside both for new and existing buildings.
Contributing factors leading to safety issues
There are two main contributing factors that lead to height safety issues from solar power installations.
The first is a general lack of understanding about the risks associated with falls from height and the steps that can be taken to mitigate them.
Although falls from height remain firmly one of the top causes of workplace fatalities and serious injury, there is a reasonable disconnect between what is widely considered to be work at height and the situations where serious and fatal falls occur.
The second contributing factor is a tendency that many of us have to focus solely on the task we are completing and not consider the potential effects it can have on the wider environment of the workplace or job site.
This can occur either through absent-mindedness – who hasn’t completely forgotten about something while in deep focus on a different task? – or through a lack of understanding about how the work you are doing can interact with other aspects of the workplace through unfamiliarity.
Planning solar systems for new buildings
Making sure that all the various elements of a new building do not conflict with each other can be complicated. With many stakeholders and specialists designing their own aspects of the building, getting everything finalised can be complicated.
Although the conflicts that can exist while the design process is still being completed are commonplace, these can be exacerbated when differing priorities are also added into the mix.
When it comes to solar power and fall protection, the need to maximise the number of panels installed on a roof often comes into conflict with the system for safely accessing them for maintenance.
Along with this, the placement of panels can make even accessing the roof in the first place difficult if care is not taken when designing a solar panel layout.
One common issue the HSE teams regularly come across is where solar panels have been installed right along the roof edge, or extremely close to it. In these cases, it is impossible for them to be safely accessed from the roof as no fall protection system can be installed.
Solar panel layouts can also compromise the ability of workers to safely access other areas of the roof that may be needed. This could be HVAC or air-conditioning systems or other types of roof-mounted plant.
Even once the plans are finalised and all the conflicts resolved on paper, making sure that solar systems are installed in accordance with those plans. Deviation from the approved plans during installation and introduce new issues that could result in workers being unable to safely access or work on the roof.
Roof safety for solar on existing buildings
Installing solar systems on existing buildings brings with it a range of different issues and considerations that need to be taken into account.
For example, when planning the installation of solar panels, the presence of an existing fall protection system must be considered. This is important as one of the most common issues found with fall protection systems following solar installation is that the system no longer allows the worker to safely access the areas they need to.
To resolve this, one of two things needs to occur. Either the solar system is limited in scope so the fall protection system can continue to be used, or the fall protection system will need upgrading to fit with the coming solar panels.
In most cases, the second option is taken up. Early consultation between the solar designer and fall protection specialist allows for a smooth and cost-effective upgrading of the fall protection system to suit the most effective solar panel layout.
An extra bonus of having an existing fall protection system is that workers can connect and utilise it during the installation process, removing the need for temporary systems or, the far riskier, going without.
Care should be taken by those workers while completing the installation to not damage or otherwise render the fall protection non-compliant. Modifying, uninstalling/reinstalling anchors or inflicting stresses or other damage can render them non-compliant. Non-compliant anchors need to be replaced prior to any further access to that work area occurring.
As with new buildings, checks should be made after work is completed to ensure the solar system has been installed in accordance with the approved plans. Deviations from the approved plans must be noted, and further checks made to ensure the fall protection system remains compliant and useful for workers needing to access the roof.
Partners in protecting people
If you are thinking about installing solar panels on your roof, you need to talk to HSE about making sure they can be safely accessed. Our team has decades of experience working with solar designers and building owners to create fully compliant and easy to use fall protection systems for workers.
Start your safety journey with us by calling 1300 884 978, emailing enquiries@heightsafety.net or by clicking here and dropping us a line.
