Utility-Scale Solar Farm Construction
A solar farm is built across hundreds or thousands of acres in a few months. Large crews, many vehicles and fast schedules combine with heat, dust and live electricity. Safe planning keeps the pace from causing injuries.
- Solar Construction
- Electricians
- Equipment Operators
Hazards
- Heat and sun in open fields with no shade. See Heat Illness.
- Pile driving and drilling: noise, struck-by and rig tip-over. See Pile Drivers.
- Trenching for cables, with cave-in and utility strike risks. See Trenching Basics.
- Handling panels: heavy, large, sharp-edged, glass breakage and wind catching.
- Electrical hazards: DC strings are energized in daylight; combiner boxes, inverters and medium-voltage equipment carry arc flash risk. See Arc Flash.
- Vehicle traffic: utility vehicles, trucks and telehandlers on rough roads. See UTVs & ATVs.
- Dust and silica, snakes and insects, and lightning.
- Remote locations with long emergency response times.
Controls
- Provide shade, water, cooling breaks and heat acclimatization plans. See Heat Acclimatization.
- Set traffic plans, speed limits, one-way routes and training for UTV and equipment operators.
- Call 811 and verify before digging or driving piles. See Call 811.
- Use carts, lifts and teams to move panels; avoid carrying them in wind. Cover broken glass.
- Treat strings as live. Use lockout, tested tools and arc-rated PPE during testing and commissioning, with a formal energization plan.
- Control dust with water and wear respirators where needed. See Silica.
- Plan for lightning with shelter and stop-work rules.
- Prepare an emergency plan with site addresses, medics and evacuation routes. See Remote Site Emergencies.
Checklist
- I have my site orientation and know my crew's tasks
- I have water, sunscreen and a plan for breaks
- I know where the nearest medic and evacuation point are
- I do not touch DC wiring without authorization and testing
- I wear a seat belt in all vehicles
Standards & references
Last updated: