SEI awarded OSHA Susan Hardwood training grant, will offer FREE solar-specific online training courses in April 2018

Last fall, Solar Energy International (SEI) was thrilled to receive news that we were awarded a Susan Harwood Training Grant through the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to develop a series of online solar-specific safety trainings.  As the PV industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, it is so important to us here at SEI to ensure that solar workers have the tools and skills to work safely on the job site, so we can all return home soundly to our families at night, proud of the work we do. Safety has always been a critical component of SEI trainings, and this grant allows us to take it a step further by developing new curriculum on targeted solar safety topics and offering these classes for free in 2018.

SEI’s curriculum developers have been working hard over the past several months to develop the following four 3-hour courses. Each course will include presentations, videos, interactive exercises, and a quiz.

1- Ladder and Lift Safety: In this course we learn about different ladder options and how to choose the appropriate ladder(s) for a PV installation, based on the specific job site and task (accessing different roof surfaces, running conduit, etc.). We discuss how to properly inspect, set up and use ladders, and through interactive exercises we evaluate different installation sites to determine the best location to set up an extension ladder to access the PV array. In the second part of this course, we identify equipment and methods for safely lifting PV modules and other materials to the roof, including ladder lifts, boom lifts, reach forklifts, scaffolding, and cranes.

2- Fall Protection: Here we review OSHA fall protection requirements and present different equipment options for working safely AND efficiently on a PV job site. We discuss the differences between fall restraint vs. positioning vs. fall arrest, look at different anchor options for roof surfaces commonly seen on PV installations, and via interactive exercises determine where to place those anchors on the roof.

3- PV Mounting Safety: In this course we identify job site hazards specific to PV mounting work, from array layout through securing modules to the racking system. We go step-by-step through a roof-mounted PV installation and call out ways to eliminate and/or control hazards through safe work practices, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Through interactive exercises and videos, we show best practice methods to safely handle PV equipment and manage small parts a sloped roof.

4- Solar Electric Safety: In the final course of this series, we take an in-depth look at electrical hazards specific to PV installation and maintenance work, and discuss the requirements of OSHA, the NEC, and NFPA 70E to assure safe working conditions. We discuss shock and arc flash hazards and identify protective measures including PPE and lockout / tagout. We dive even further into lockout / tagout and safe electrical testing methods in our interactive exercises and videos.

Stay tuned for more information on these courses, set to launch in April. These courses will be offered on-demand FOR FREE in 2018!

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