energy to cause personal injury. Electrical incidents are caused
by a combination of three factors: (1) unsafe equipment and/
or installation, (2) workplaces made unsafe by the environ-
ment, and (3) unsafe work practices.
OSHA regulations regarding electrical safety require-
ments are necessary for the practical safeguarding of employ-
ees. They are divided into five major divisions:
1926.402 through 1926.408—Installation safety
requirements: Employers must abide by safety guidelines
for using electric equipment and providing electric
power and light on job sites, including working with
equipment and PV systems over 600 volts (V).
1926.416 and 1926.417—Workplace safety practices:
Employers must ensure that employees understand the
hazards arising from the use of electricity at job sites and
hazards arising from the accidental contact with all
energized lines passing through or near the job site.
1926.431 and 1926.432—Safety-related maintenance and environmental
considerations: Employers must make certain that electrical equipment is
kept in proper working order and safeguards are in place against the
deterioration of any equipment used during installation.
1926.441—Safety requirements for batteries: Employers must use caution
when working with batteries, including handling and maintenance.
Applicable definitions related to electrical safety are contained in 1926.449
for employers to use and share with employees.
Protection from Falls
Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the construction industry. Most PV sys-
tems involve climbing ladders or working on rooftops. OSHA requires employers
to provide training to employees. Employees apply their training to recognize fall
hazards. Employees learn how to use fall protection systems and devices. They use
their knowledge to minimize fall hazards.
It is essential that PV installers are familiar with OSHA fall protection regula-
tions. OSHA regulations on fall protection include:
1926.500—Fall protection guidelines in the workplace: Employers must
train and educate employees on fall hazards and fall safety tactics to use on
the job site.
1926.501—Employer guidelines for fall protection safety systems:
Employers must abide by OSHA requirements on fall protection, including
NOTE
Currents above 10 mA can paralyze or
freeze muscles.
TECH TIPS
Currents of more than 75 mA ac
can cause a rapid, ineffective heartbeat.
Death can occur in minutes unless a
defibrillator is used. It’s important to
understand that 75 mA is not much
current—a small power drill uses
30 times as much.
CHAPTER 5
Building Codes and Regulations for PV Systems 93
situations where employees can potentially fall six feet or more and
situations where employees work around holes and excavations.
1926.502—Guidelines for fall protection systems practices: Employers
must follow the fall protection requirements, including education and
training on guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), and
positioning device systems.
1926.503—Workplace education requirements: Employers must keep up
with mandated quarterly and yearly educational trainings required
by OSHA.
Stairways, Ladders, Lifts, and Scaffolding
Stairways, ladders, lifts, and scaffolding are crucial to installing PV power systems.
Most PV systems involve climbing ladders or working on rooftops.
Scaffolding and Lifts Scaffolding may be used in PV system installation.
There are many requirements necessary for using scaffolding. OSHA regulations
concerning scaffolding and lifts include:
1926.450—Scaffolding requirements and definitions: Employers must be
familiar with the terms and guidelines for using scaffolding on a job site.
1926.451—Scaffolding standards: Employers must note that all scaffolding
components must be able to support their weight, including the additional
weight of the maximum intended load.
1926.452—Guidelines for different types of scaffolds: Employers must
identify the various types of scaffolding, including pole, tube and coupler,
welded frame, large area, and more.
1926.453—Aerial lifts: Employers must educate employees on the use of
lifts and cranes, including maintenance and testing to ensure that lifts are in
safe working order.
1926.454—Education on the hazards of working on scaffolds: Employers
must provide education and training on scaffolding, include fall protection
standards. This section has several subparts:
1926 Subpart L App A —Provision for scaffolding
1926 Subpart L App B —Conditions for providing fall protection for
scaffolding builders
1926 Subpart L App C—National Consensus Standards
1926 Subpart L App D—Training subjects for scaffolding builders
1926 Subpart L App E—Graphic illustrations of scaffolding types
94 ADVANCED PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATIONS
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