The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s article, ‘Electricians and backpackers sound alarm about unsafe conditions on solar farms’, outlines some of the dangerous conditions that workers often face on solar farms and the alleged ‘cutting of corners’ when it comes to employing appropriately qualified workers.

Alongside the physical safety component, workers have also reported risks that have the capacity to negatively impact their psychological health.

Health and safety in the solar industry is somewhat unchartered territory and, looking more broadly, the wider Australian renewable energy sector is yet to see major WHS action taken against it. As the renewable energy sector continues its rapid growth, and as solar energy continues to contribute a greater share of generation to the Australian electricity network, safety regulators are likely to increase their focus on the solar industry…

Key to managing the increased scrutiny of clean energy sites by safety regulators, is for organisations within the industry to ensure they are proactive about their workers’ safety. Organisations should take immediate steps to mitigate risk by conducting…