Throughout Canada and North America, commercial building owners and property managers are embracing solar energy on a large scale. While this trend is being welcomed from a sustainability standpoint, it is essential that it be approached with great care from a safety perspective. In a learning resource from Skyline Group, we explore the various safety risks associated with rooftop solar panels, and what considerations should be taken into account when installing these RTUs (rooftop units).
Here at Skyline, we’re seeing solar panels as an increasingly common RTU on commercial rooftops. This is reflected in the latest industry statistics from the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), which highlights that Canada now has a solar capacity of 2,399MW, compared to 2,111MW in 2020. Ontario is the most valuable source for Canada’s solar generation, sharing almost 96% of its solar power.
The benefits of this trend towards renewable energy are significant for commercial building owners. However, the installation and ongoing maintenance of these RTUs present new risks that must be addressed from a height safety standpoint. Let’s take a closer look!
Solar Panels: Understanding & Addressing the Risks
Solar panels come in a range of sizes and materials. However, regardless of the differences here, they present common risks in two key areas: initial installation and ongoing maintenance.
1. Installation of Solar Panels: Key Safety Considerations
The secure fastening of solar panels to a rooftop is critical for the protection of rooftop workers and those on ground level. It is also critical for ensuring the longevity and safety of the solar panels themselves. Always remember that properly anchored solar panels prevent potential hazards caused by adverse environmental conditions such as wind uplift.
Beyond ensuring secure fastening, steps must be taken to protect facility maintenance crews and contractors when navigating around these units. A perfect example of improved safety is installing a non-penetrating guardrail, which provides security without damaging the roof membrane while ensuring solar panels remain stable and reliable over time. Another option is roof anchors, a more reactive safety solution that requires routine inspections and fastening to the roof structure. These systems allow for quick adaptation to any roof layout.
Aside from the above, facilities and maintenance teams face a large degree of risk during the process of installing the panels. Below we’ve shared three key considerations to keep top of mind; preparation, installation and post-installation:
- Preparation: Prior to installation, it is crucial to ensure that all materials and tools are safely transported to the roof. Using safety hoists can streamline this process, securely elevating equipment and reducing the physical strain on workers, minimizing the risk of injuries.
- During installation: Safety should never be compromised. Workers should wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure that pathways are clear of tools and materials to avoid tripping hazards. Skyline’s aluminum walkways offer a robust solution for safely navigating across rooftops. These walkways are designed with anti-slip surfaces and provide a stable pathway over uneven rooftop landscapes. Additionally, crossover bridges are invaluable for safely crossing over pipes, ducts, and other rooftop obstructions, ensuring that workers have safe and easy access across the entire roof.
- Post-installation: Once installation is complete, it’s essential to double-check that all equipment is securely installed and that there are no loose components or potential tripping hazards. Ensuring that the workspace is left clear and secure helps prevent future accidents.
2. Maintenance of Solar Panels: Key Safety Considerations
Once your solar panels have been safely installed, the effort must continue to protect the welfare of facilities and maintenance teams who will need to routinely access and work on these areas. There are a number of considerations here, from the importance of routine inspections through to weather considerations, tool safety and more. Below we’ve shared a breakdown of these key points:
- Routine inspections: Maintenance personnel should systematically check for any physical damages, such as cracks in the panels or loose mountings that could potentially lead to hazardous situations. Skyline provides a perfect solution with walkway systems that facilitate safe movement across the roof, ensuring that inspectors can navigate safely without the risk of damaging the panels or experiencing slips and falls.
- Clear pathways: Your post-installation approach to clear pathways should manage cables and equipment that could obstruct maintenance routes. Utilizing cable management solutions alongside Skyline’s walkways (which are built with non-slip surfaces to further mitigate the risk of accidents) ensures a tidy and secure environment for maintenance staff to operate.
- Adverse weather: Skyline’s crossover bridges facilitate easy access over obstructions created by the installation of solar panels, making them a safety must-have. Especially when considering the potential for trips and falls with ice and snow buildup, you want to ensure maintenance teams can efficiently clean and repair panels even in challenging conditions. Installing guardrails around the perimeter of the solar panel area can provide an extra layer of fall protection when maintenance workers are focused on their tasks.
- Using PPE: Personal Protective Equipment is essential for maintaining rooftop solar panels. This includes harnesses, helmets, gloves, and eye protection. However, it is crucial to remember that these shouldn’t form the primary element of your fall protection strategy – they should be used alongside robust systems such as guardrails, bumplines and walkways.
- Tool safety: Secure storage and handling of tools and materials are imperative to prevent them from becoming falling hazards. Safety netting, for example, can be used to catch tools or other objects that might accidentally be dropped, protecting workers below as well as the public and property around the building.
- Documentation and reporting: Keeping detailed records of all maintenance activities, issues found, repairs done, and safety checks performed is not only best practice but often a regulatory requirement. These records help in forecasting potential future issues and planning preventive measures accordingly.
From the initial installation to ongoing maintenance, ensuring worker safety atop commercial buildings is paramount. By incorporating robust safety protocols and systems like those provided by Skyline Group—including guardrails, walkways, and personal fall arrest systems—building owners and maintenance teams can provide workers-at-height with the safety considerations they deserve.
Skyline Group: Elevated Work, Elevated Safety
Here at Skyline Group, we bring together decades of experience in rooftop safety to protect people, companies and brands. To find out how we can elevate the safety of your green rooftop, contact us today for your expert consultation. Alternatively, get started by browsing our full selection of safety solutions.
