Solar panel retail and installation
Information for solar retailers and installers on managing legal duties and risks under work health and safety (WHS) laws.
On this page:
- Who is responsible for safety?
- Solar retailer safety toolkit
- Managing risks in solar installation
- Complying with the laws
- Tools and resources
The Asbestos Awareness for Solar Installers course is now available for free.
This 1 hour online course is designed for installers of solar panels and will help you to identify asbestos and understand its health risks.
Who is responsible for safety?
Solar retailers and any sub-contract solar installer(s) they engage have shared and specific WHS duties.
Solar retailers and sub-contracted solar installers are considered a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) under the Work Health and Safety Act NSW 2011, and the Work Health and Safety Regulation NSW 2017.
Solar retailers cannot contract out or transfer their duties.
PCBUs also have a duty to keep their workers and others (such as the clients, the public and home-owners) safe.
Safe Work Australia's WHS Duties in a Contractual Chain fact sheet explains how contractual relationships fit within the model WHS framework.
Solar retailer responsibilities
- Solar retailers have a responsibility to ensure higher order controls are used in the first instance, such as using temporary edge protection and/or scaffold, rather than a fall arrest system like a harness.
- Solar retailers who engage contractors and labour hire workers as part of their workforce share a duty of care to these workers along with the business that provides them.
- Solar retailer company directors are also considered officers of a PCBU and have additional/specific WHS duties.
Solar retailers must ensure solar installers:
- have provided appropriate information/evidence to indicate they have the capability, systems and equipment to work safely. Use the Solar retailers safety checklist (PDF, 285.92 KB) to help you
- have provided evidence that safety systems have been put in place
- have provided evidence that workers hold the appropriate licences
- complete a risk assessment / fall protection assessment (PDF, 132.92 KB) for each job
- prepare safe work method statement (SWMS) for high-risk work
- are providing adequate information, instruction and training to workers.
Solar installer responsibilities
Solar installers are responsible for planning and implementing control measures to manage risks.
If a solar installer engages contractors and labour hire workers as part of their workforce, they share a duty of care to these workers along with the business that provides them.
Solar installers must follow the hierarchy of control measures, including appropriate measures for falls:
- work from a solid construction first
- if you can’t work on the ground, prevent your workers from falling by using a fall-prevention device
- if it is not possible to use a fall prevention device, use a work-positioning system
- if it is not possible to use a fall prevention device or a work positioning system, use a fall arrest system. If you use a fall arrest system, you must have emergency and rescue procedures in place and test them to ensure they are effective.
Solar installers must also:
- prepare a safe work method statement (SWMS) for high-risk work
- ensure that any equipment is used as per manufacturer's instructions, and by workers who are trained and/or competent in the safe use and/or installation
- provide safe access and egress to the roof
- ensure electrical work and asbestos removal is completed by a licenced tradesperson
- consult workers about each job and provide adequate training and instruction to workers
- do a risk assessment for each job, considering site specific risks and appropriate control measures
- ensure that any equipment is used as per manufacturer's instructions, and by workers who are trained and/or competent in the safe use and/or installation.
Managing risks in solar installation
General safety preparation before the job starts
- Have a site-specific SWMS prepared for each job where the risk of falls is two metres or more, or when working on or near electricity or asbestos.
- The SWMS must be prepared in consultation with workers – make sure they follow it.
- Identify the hazards and risks at the time of quotation and have the correct safety equipment in place before work commences.
- Consult with your workers about how to work safely.
Falls from heights
Falls from heights are the most common risk in solar installation.
Manage risks by:
- always applying the high order controls first. Use a fall prevention device such as temporary edge protection (PDF, 2885.66 KB) or scaffold. Only use harnesses as a last resort. Exceptions may apply when temporary edge protection or scaffold cannot be installed due to the building structure or site constraints
- providing safe access and egress to the roof. For example, if using a ladder make sure it's fixed at the top, base and extends 1m past the access point
- assessing roofs for fragile and brittle materials. If they are present ensure controls are in place to prevent persons falling through such as use of an elevated work platform, physical covers over skylights, mesh or walking platforms over polycarbonate roof sheeting
- if using a fall restraint, the system design must include an anchor plan and enough anchors located in positions that enable a worker to traverse the roof safely, without reaching a fall hazard. See section 8.5 of the Guide to Safe Solar Panel Installation for an example anchor plan
- having emergency procedures, including a rescue procedure, specific to the use of a fall arrest system that have been tested for effectiveness
- adequately training workers in these systems before use.
Get more information and resources about working safely at height
Working with electricity
Manage risks by:
- ensuring wiring of the solar panel installation is done by a:
- licenced electrical contractor
- person with an electrical qualified supervisor certificate, or
- under the supervision of someone who holds an electrical qualified supervisor certificate.
- switching off all sources of electricity to the property and tagging them out
- proving isolation by testing for dead and ensure workers test before they touch
- adequately controlling the risks associated with overhead powerlines and consumer lines
- ensuring workers are trained and supervised, particularly young or inexperienced workers.
Get more resources about Working with electricity
Explore resources for managing other common risks in solar installation:
Articles
Complying with the laws
What are the laws?
Section 19 of the WHS Act 2011 describes the 'primary duty of care' of PCBUs.
This means they must ensure:
- the health and safety of workers and other persons
- a work environment without risks to health and safety
- safe plant and structures
- safe systems of work
- the safe use, handling, and storage of plant, structures, and substances
- adequate facilities
- to provide information, training, instruction, and supervision
- the conditions at the workplace are monitored to prevent illness or injury.
Section 27 of the WHS Act 2011 describes the ‘duties of officers’. This means they must exercise due diligence to ensure the PCBU complies with their duties.
In addition to these laws, there are specific obligations that apply to:
- working at heights – clauses 78 – 80 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017
- electrical work – risks must be managed in accordance with clauses 32 – 38 of the regulation, which are applicable to all risks to health and safety. For the specific laws about the risks of electrical work, see clauses 144 – 166 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017
- falling objects – risks must be managed in accordance with clauses 54-55 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017.
There are also general work health and safety laws that will apply to you in any situation, including when working at heights or with electricity.
What are the licence requirements?
Only the holder of a building or electrical contractors’ licence can contract in NSW to undertake electrical wiring work. This includes installing and connecting solar panels on the roof of a residential property or other premises.
A building contractor can enter a contract to install solar panels, but an electrical licence holder must be hired as part of the contract to carry out the necessary electrical wiring work.
Learn more about the requirements you must meet to install solar panels in NSW.
If you don't comply
Under WHS laws, a PCBU or worker can be fined for non-compliance. This includes:
- fines of up to $3,600 for each safety breach identified
- prosecution for serious or repeated safety breaches and/or incidents.
SafeWork NSW may also:
- take action against either PCBU (solar retailer/solar installer) or both
- refer occupational licence holders to NSW Fair Trading for non-licensed work.
Tools and resources
Templates
- Fall protection assessment template (PDF, 132.92 KB)
- Know your solar installers template (PDF, 670.62 KB)
Checklists
- Solar retailers safety checklist (PDF, 285.92 KB)
- Solar installers safety checklist
- Construction falls from heights principal contractor safety checklist () PDF, 208.69 KB
Guides
Toolbox talks
Fact sheets
- Working at heights – general safety
- Electrical practices – construction and demolition sites fact sheet
- Electrical Work – general safety
- Working in extreme heat (A-Z Hazards)
- Roof edge protection – temporary systems for working on roofs PDF, 2885.66 KB
Codes of practice
- Managing the risk of falls in housing construction (PDF, 2296.79 KB)
- Managing the risk of falls at workplaces (PDF, 2326.56 KB)
- Managing electrical risks in the workplace (PDF, 1337.36 KB)
- Hazardous Manual Tasks (PDF, 1499.23 KB)
- Construction Work (PDF, 1014.41 KB)
- Managing the environment and facilities (PDF, 422.29 KB)
Safety alerts
- Fall through roof fatality – 7 November 2023
- Young worker falls through skylight – 24 July 2023
- Electrical apprentice falls from roof during solar installation – 1 June 2022
- Solar installation fall from roof – serious injury – 7 January 2020
- Falls through roofs – 4 August 2020
Podcast
Project findings reports
Australian Standards
- AS/NZS3000:2018 Electrical Installations (AUS/NZ Wiring Rules)
- AS/NZS 1170.2011(R2016) Structural Design Actions – Wind Actions
- AS/NZS 4994.1.2009 Temporary edge protection – General requirements
- AS/NZS 4994.1.2009 Temporary edge protection – Roof edge protection – installation and dismantling
- AS/NZS 3760:2010 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment
- AS/NZS 1576.1.209 – Scaffolding – General requirements
- AS 4576:2020 – Guidelines for scaffolding
Other government and not-for-profit organisations
- NSW Fair Trading – NSW government consumer rights and trader compliance regulator including for installing solar panels
- Clean energy council – accredits solar installers across Australia.