Hazards

Controls

Falling from Height

In nearly every installations, scaffolding will be required to provide a safe working platform.  The platform should extend beyond the work area.

All personnel have attended a working at height course.

No mobile phone calls to be taken on roof.

Ladder access, ladders should be positioned at approximately 75 ° and extend to a height of 1 meter above the working platform. When more than 3 meters in length, the ladder should be securely tied at the top, or footed at the bottom, to prevent slipping.

Check there are no roof openings (e.g. Roof windows) or weak roof areas that somebody could fall through.

Always get down from the ladder and then relocate it.

Roof ladders must be securely in position before ascending. Do not attempt to extend a ladder or roof ladder by adding to it.

Ensure that the surface under the ladder is stable. (Don't place the ladder in flower beds)

Ensure that the surface against which the ladder is leaning is capable of taking the weight of the fully loaded ladder. 

Tidy up as you go to minimise loose material causing a trip hazard.

Ensure that work is carried out during the day light hours where practicable.Lighting must be provided in the area when working at night or if it becomes dark.  Do not work at a height in the hours of darkness where practicable.

A cracked tile/slate is liable to "give-way" if walked on, this will cause a high likelyhood of a fall. New tiled roofs are particlarily vunerable to this as the tile does not reach full strenght for a number of months after firing.  The roof should be inpspected and if suspect tiles / slates found then extra safety measure should be put in place.

Slips,
Trips
Falls

All materials & tools must be tidied away when not in use.

Always use approved means of access to and egress to and from the scaffolding and roof area.

Do not take unapproved short cuts.

Operate a ’clean up as you go’ policy.If working on the roof be aware that the tiles may become slippery if they get wet, make sure that you check your footing before proceeding or walking.

Be aware of the surroundings looking for potholes, items lying around etc.

Trailing leads must be minimised/elimated through the use of battery tools where possible.If they are required, they must be covered with a suitable cover or alternatively suspended at a height.

Electrocution

Use battery or 110v power tools to prevent electrotion from power tools

Observe and avoid any overhead power lines. 

Use a competent person to wire the immersion, controls and solar pump.

Installations should follow "National Rules for Electrical installations" published by the ETCI.

Fire

Elimination of hot work through the use of compression joints. 

If brazing or high temperature soldering is required, then a fire-watch with suitable means of extingushing a fire is put in place for at least one hour after the hot work has finished. 

Great care to be taken when potentially hot pipework dissapears into wall/ roof cavaties.

Smoking in designated areas only.

Eye Injury

Safety goggles to be worn when drilling.

Full safety mask to be worn cutting tiles or slates with a grinder.

Burns & Scalds

Solar circuits must never be depressurised on roof if the temperature within the panel is more than 100C. The water within the panel will flash (explode) to steam and cause severe burns/scalds and possibly death to personnel in vicinity.

Panels should not be left exposed to the sun before they are lifted onto the roof.

All personnel should be aware that exposed solar pipework is likely to be very hot in or just after even moderately sunny conditions.

The immersion heater on the cylinder should be set to a maximum of 60C.

Dust,
Irritants,
Attic Insulation

Wear mask & gloves if attic dusty, or moving insulation.

Rodent Pathogens

Risk from Weils and other rodent borne diseases.  It may not be obvious if there is a rodent infestition in a property. Good hygine practices should be followed and in particular hands should be washed before eating or smoking.

Manual handling

Risk of back injury as a result of lifting items incorrectly or that are too heavy. 

Personnel should attend a manual handling course.

Lift panels to the roof is a particular hazards and can be minimised by

Have fixing bolts/frames already secured,

Keep panel flat to roof as much as possible,

Do not lift in windy weather,

Discuss lifting plan with colleagues prior to lifting, take care that one installer does not have to support the full weight of the panel at any time and that small stage to stage lifts are used.

Use a suitable block and tackle where appropiate.

Falling Tools/ Tiles/ Slates

Barrier off area below roof access.   Lock doors / gates to prevent children accessing the area near where work is being carried out.

General care required. Employ kick boards or netting to ensure that a broken tile / slate cannot accelerate down the roof and overshoot the scaffolding, causing a hazard some distance out from the building. 

Minimum amount of tools on roof.  

Organise work so that the maximum amount of work occurs at ground level.

Vehicles / Plant

Use of high Visibility Vests on sites with Plant/ Vehicles.  

Enforcement of speed restrictions.

Closing road access adjecent to panel preperation areas and scaffolding/ladders may be appropiate.

Weather

Sunlight can cause skin cancer.Suitable protective clothing and/or creams must be used in sunny weather conditions.

Wind can cause numbing of the hands/feet.Suitable warm clothing must be worn during cold or windy spells.

Installation work must not be carried out during periods of high winds or storms that may give rise to lightening. If there are any signs of lightening conditions then roof work must cease until the threat has passed.

Rain made ladders, scaffolding and other surfaces slippy and dangerous.  Outside work should be avoided as much as possible during wet conditions.  

Noise

Stable Platform

Be erected and after the work has completed be dismantled by trained, experienced personnel.   The platform should extend beyond working area.

Any scaffolding must only be erected by a competent person who holds a valid CSCS card for the category of scaffold in use.

The scaffolding must be labelled following erection indicating whether the scaffolding is safe to use or not.

No person can interfere with, remove or alter a scaffold or part of scaffold unless competent to do so.

Scaffolding should not be overloaded.

Ensure that loose debris etc is cleaned from scaffold boards on a regular basis.

Access & Egress

Ensure that all access and egress points are kept clear and free from obstruction.Be vigilant to ensure that your access equipment and/or vehicle do not obstruct or impede any entrance/exit.

Do not climb scaffolding sections other than by the approved access ladder(s) or steps. Do not use a scaffold to access the roof area unless it has been tagged as safe to use. Do not jump to or from the scaffold or roof area.

Do not ride in or on the forks or other attachments of a forklift, Manitou or other item of plant to gain access to any roof area.

Ensure all routes are free from obstruction and that access does not affect your safe passage with the ladders.

Walk the route to be taken to visibly identify any potential hazards prior to taking your ladders to the work area.

Chemicals

Ethylene Glycol is used in car radiators as an anti-freeze, however the ingestion of just 2 tablespoons of Ethylene Glycol can be fatal in adults, and unfortunately because of its sweet taste, animals or children may consume large volumes if exposed to it. Ethylene Glycol should never be used.

Propylene Glycol in low concentrations is generally deemed to be safe if ingested and indeed is used as an additive in cosmetics and food (E number 1520). For this reason it is popular within Solar Systems.