Regulator updates rooftop solar installation guide
Safe Work Australia has updated its ‘Guide to managing the risks of rooftop solar installation work’ to reflect the increasing popularity of battery energy storage systems.
The updated guide aims to provide clear, practical guidance for managing the work health and safety (WHS) risks around battery installation.
Rooftop solar installation work, including the installation of batteries, comes with significant WHS risks arising from working at heights and working with electricity. It is critical that these risks are identified and controlled, the regulator said.
The guide supports anyone involved in retailing, surveying, designing, installing, testing, commissioning, retrofitting, repairing, maintaining, decommissioning or removing rooftop solar systems on residential or commercial structures. This includes new or retrofitted solar panels, inverters, batteries and related equipment.
Safe Work Australia emphasised that, whether part of a new rooftop solar system or an addition to an existing one, battery installations must only be carried out by qualified electricians, following local regulations and manufacturer’s instructions. Batteries should also comply with Australian standards and be compatible with the associated rooftop solar system.
The guide can be downloaded here via the Safe Work Australia website.
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