75% of SA solar panel installers fail compliance audits

In a recent audit conducted by SafeWork SA, three quarters of solar panel installers have no controls in place to minimise the risk of a fall. The compliance program resulted in the issuing of 102 ‘stop work’ notices and 83 improvement notices to business across the state.

In response to these alarming numbers SafeWork SA has launched an education campaign to installers, publishing new guidance on managing fall risk during solar panel installation.

Says SafeWork SA Executive Director, Martyn Campbell: “Solar retailers and installers have duties under work health and safety laws to ensure workers are safe when installing rooftop solar panels.

“Managing falls follows a hierarchy of controls that start with eliminating the risks of falling from edges, through skylights or brittle roofing surfaces.”

Falls from heights remains the number-one cause of notifiable injuries on construction sites in SA. It is important that site managers and installers have specific measures in place to assure compliance and worker safety, including:

• Temporary edge protection or scaffolding
• Correct PPE equipment
• Correct and valid licenses held by workers on site

Ensure if your site is up to national standards? Get in touch with our team for an audit.