How To Increase Worker Safety For Renewable Energy Contractors

Clean energy jobs grew 5% in 2022 to a total of 3.2 million. Of that total, renewable energy contributed to 515,248 jobs. As with the rest of the US economy, small businesses employ the majority of Americans. Approximately 90% of the clean energy workforce comes from businesses with less than 100 employees. With growth projected to continue until at least 2026, renewable energy contractors need comprehensive work safety programs in place.

Most people think of solar and wind when they think of renewable energy. However, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal are also part of the sector. According to the US Department of Labor’s Occupational, Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), renewable energy safety risks include:

• Machinery Misuse
• Falls
• Electricity
• Confined Spaces

While the renewable energy sector may share safety risks, the contributing factors vary. How can renewable energy contractors increase worker safety?

Machinery Misuse

Renewable energies use specialized equipment. Knowing how to install solar panels and maintain wind turbines requires training. And without proper training, employees may injure themselves or others.

Cranes install and maintain wind turbines. Only trained personnel should operate a crane. For example, it may be just a few feet to reposition a crane. However, unstable surfaces, power lines, and swing radii can create unsafe conditions. 

Back injuries are 25% of all compensation claims. And many of those come from workers failing to use the equipment correctly. For example, they may fail to use equipment to help with lifting. Individuals working with solar panels lift the panels and tools on and off trucks and onto a roof without assistance, causing unnecessary injury.

Biomass energy uses harvesting machines with sharp blades that run at high speed. Machinery can throw objects, causing injury to anyone standing too close. In addition, wind turbines have large moving parts that can injure anyone on the job site.

Ensuring equipment is maintained correctly is crucial to a safe work environment. Developing a process to let employees report equipment concerns can stop an accident before it happens. Digitizing these forms allows workers to report hazards immediately. Employees can complete a digital form as soon as they see a problem, so repairs can be addressed quickly.

Falls

Falls are the second most common workplace injury, costing $10.26 million per year. Every renewable energy contractor should have safety measures in place to prevent falls. Granted, a fall from a 300-foot wind turbine is different than one from a 12-foot ladder. However, every energy workplace should provide safety training and tools as a standard part of any program.

Wind farm employees need safety harnesses, guardrails, and training for both on and offshore turbines. Solar panels are installed on commercial buildings at dangerous heights. Even at residential locations, installers can suffer serious injuries from falls. Keeping energy workplaces free of debris can minimize the risk of a fall.

Outdoor elements can contribute to slips, trips, and falls. Leaves become slippery when wet. Sticks and tree limbs can make for unsure footing. Conduct job site safety analyses to identify all hazards. This simple step can minimize the risk of falls. Providing a digital safety form that employees can complete before work starts to make the paperwork convenient. But it also helps to keep the renewable energy construction site safe.

Electricity

Electricity can cause thermal burns, shock, and electrocution. Electrical current runs through wind farms, solar panels, and hydropower stations. Workers can suffer serious injury without proper safety processes in place. Perform a job safety analysis before work begins. In addition, provide protective equipment. And most importantly, cut power to the location.

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) reports that electrocution is a common hydropower safety hazard. Minimize risk by considering safety in the design of power stations. The IHA recommends written processes to ensure that equipment is maintained, training is completed, and procedures are followed.

Train everyone involved in clean energy construction and maintenance on the basics of electrical safety. Employees should be trained on how to avoid contact with electrical currents and what to do in case of an emergency. 

Confined Spaces

OSHA indicates that working in confined spaces presents a safety hazard, especially in wind turbines. The safety organization notes that confined spaces inside wind turbines can cause asphyxiation, due to low oxygen levels. Job safety analysis should be performed before employees enter confined spaces in the energy workplace.

Employers must screen workers to prevent those with claustrophobia or similar conditions from working in confined spaces. Panic attacks can create unsafe working conditions. 

Wind turbines can also generate harmful gases and vapors. Dust particles are in the air circulating in and around a turbine. Clean energy employers must ensure that employees have protective equipment, such as respirators, to reduce the inhalation of possible contaminants. 

Biomass energy also presents respiratory hazards from crops, fungi, and mold. Employees should have protection to limit inhaling particles that could damage the lungs or trigger allergies.

Increased Worker Safety

The 2022 Safety Index shows that nonfatal workplace injuries cost US businesses $49.18 billion in 2022, or about $1 billion per week. These are direct costs for the top 10 causes of injuries. It does not include the indirect costs that many businesses overlook.

A recent OSHA article highlighted the added cost of workplace injury in areas such as labor shortages and psychosocial risks. When an injury occurs, it impacts the entire team. Employees who take on more work to cover for an injured employee become more stressed, as they are already working long hours because of labor shortages.

Business cultures may suffer when an employee is injured. The remaining employees may feel less secure and express concerns that can lead to disgruntled staff. Disengaged employees are less productive and prone to errors.

A work-related injury costs a business more than direct compensation. It can damage morale and lower productivity. Renewable energy contractors can avoid unnecessary injuries by implementing a comprehensive safety program that encourages communication.

Digitize Your Safety Plan to Protect Renewable Energy Contractors

Letting employees communicate their concerns and observations through digital forms demonstrates a willingness to work together to create a safe work environment. When those forms can be delivered to a mobile device, it encourages employees to participate in reporting issues to improve worker safety. GoCanvas allows businesses to create customized digital forms that can be incorporated into a comprehensive safety program. Contact GoCanvas today to see how we can help you digitize your safety plan.