Thinkstock
1. Fall Protection - General Requirements
1. Fall Protection - General Requirements
1. Fall Protection - General Requirements
1. Fall Protection - General Requirements
1. Fall Protection - General Requirements

Anaheim Solar Panel Company Faces Fines After Worker Falls

June 18, 2019
None of the company's workers were wearing fall protection.

Nexus Solar Energy Systems willfully exposed its workers to fall hazards, according to an investigaton by state-run agency Cal/OSHA.

Inspectors were called to the Anaheim, Calif. solar panel company's jobsite after an employee was seriously injured after a fall from a residential roof.

“Falls from roofs are often deadly, and that is why employers must protect their employees from fall hazards and provide effective training,” said Cal/OSHA Deputy Chief of Enforcement Debra Lee. “This employer was aware of these dangers and ignored its responsibility to address them.”

On Dec. 6, 2018, three installers were working to install solar panels at the Oakland residence when one of the workers lost his footing and fell 15 ft.onto the concrete driveway, suffering a broken wrist and jaw. None of the workers were wearing fall protection.

Cal/OSHA cited Nexus Energy Systems for five violations, three of which were related to the December accident, including:

  • A willful serious accident-related violation as the employer failed to provide fall protection.
  • Two serious violations for the employer’s failure to provide training and ensure compliance with fall protection measures.
  • Two general violations for the employer’s failure to implement an effective heat illness protection plan and an injury and illness prevention program that identifies and corrects hazards specific to the worksite.

The agency also cited the employer for two additional violations stemming from an incident that investigators learned had taken place the previous September, when a worker suffered electrical burns while connecting solar panels to an energized breaker box.

Cal/OSHA noted one serious continuing violation for failing to provide insulated gloves or tools while working on energized equipment, and a general violation for the employer’s failure to investigate the industrial accident and take measures to correct safety hazards.

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!