The document discusses health and safety concerns regarding photovoltaic solar panels. It describes the typical materials used in solar panels like solar cells made of semiconductors that convert sunlight to electricity. It also outlines potential hazards during manufacturing like exposure to toxic chemicals and heavy metals as well as disposal concerns. The document recommends implementing an occupational health and safety management system to manage risks, conduct hazard assessments, provide trainings, and continually improve safety performance and culture for the solar photovoltaic technology industry.

1. Safety, Health & Environment (SHE)
Solar PV Technology
General Overview
from
Vinod Jyothikumar, PhD
EHS Consultant : vjkehs@gmail.com

2. Health and Safety Concerns of Photovoltaic Solar Panels
Materials used in photovoltaics solar panels
 The basic building block of a photovoltaic solar
system is the solar cell. Solar cells are solid
state, semiconductor devices that convert
sunlight into electricity.
 Typically a number of individual cells are
connected together to form modules, or solar
panels.
 In order to provide electrical insulation and
protect against environmental corrosion, the
solar cells are encased in a transparent material
referred to as an encapsulant.
 To provide structural integrity the solar cells are
mounted on top of a rigid flat surface or
substrate. A transparent cover film, commonly
glass, further protects these components from
the elements.
Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy

3. Health and Safety Concerns of Photovoltaic Solar Panels
Simplified Photovoltaic Solar Panel Life Cycle
Exposures to
harmful dust,
contaminated
soil, etc.
Strong fumes, by-products,
inhalation of kerf dust, a
byproduct of silicon etc.
Exposures to heavy
metal poisoning
e.g. Lead soldering.

4. Health and Safety Concerns of Photovoltaic Solar Panels
Major Hazards in PV Manufacturing
x-Si
• HF acid burns SiH4 fires/explosions
Pb solder / module disposal
a-Si
• SiH4
fires/explosion
s
CdTe • Cd toxicity, carcinogenicity,
module disposal
CIS, CGS
• H2Se toxicity,
module disposal
GaAs
• AsH3 toxicity, As
carcinogenicity,
H2 flammability,
module disposal

5. Occupational health and safety (OH&S) Management
Overview
Occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system standard for Industries
Safety
Policies
Safety
directives
Process Design
Standard
Safety &
Health
Manuals
Safety &
Health
Trainings
Internal
Certification
Scheme
The Three C’s of the Solar-PV Technology HSE Program
• Conformance: Meets the requirements (Implements the “shalls”)
• Consistency: Various elements inter-related (i.e., Significant aspects
reflected in emergency planning, etc.)
• Continual improvement: Mechanisms are in place to improve the O&SH
and organizational performance, supported by management commitment and
support

6. Why Occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system for PV
Technology ?
Lessons Learned from Accidents
 No formal hazard evaluation and risk assessment
had been completed to characterize the potential
danger of the research activity and to plan for the
worst-case scenario
 End user sought peer advice, Fire responders
needs to be informed about the operation
process.
 No policy was in place to prompt the end users to
seek SME advice or evaluation of operational
activities.
PIC 1
PIC 2
A fire involving PV panels (Photograph courtesy of Bodo
Wolters)

7. EHS performance management system.
Continual Improvement Cycle Plan-Do-Check-Act

8. Highlights of the elements proposed for Solar PV Technology-Safety
Management System
Oversight and
Leadership team
• Functions as the corporate
sponsor for the safety
management system.
• Ensure that resources are
available for performing necessary
work.
• Provide support and guidance to
element leadership team.
• Helps element leadership teams
to gain support from all
stakeholders and where necessary
to remove obstacles from their
path.
• Helps to prioritize activities such
that change impact to the lab
safety are managed and where
possible accidents are minimized.
Establish the safety culture vision
All element standards clearly defined
Responsibilities and resources allocated
Training provided to all personnel
Activities documented
Internal controls developed and activated
Sustainment process developed and
activated
Performance management

9. Safety TOOLS for assessing PV Technology

10. PCR-SIT Profile Analysis-Internal Audits
It gives a bird’s eye view of the whole PV Technology process from many different angles that
Executive Leadership Team wants to check and keep a track of while contemplating on a certain
idea/plan. GOAL –Perfect Hexagon
P-Policy includes: Biosafety , Radiation safety, Chemical Safety, LASER Safety Programs and more..
C-Training &Certification of the employees based on Occupational Health and Safety Management System
R-Regulations : (OHSAS) 18001:2007 and OHSAS 18002:2000
S-Standard Operating Procedure followed in the PV Technology process cycle.
I-Inventory Management e.g. Hazardous chemicals used during PV technology etc.
T-Technology: Risk Analysis for the new tools / instruments used for PV technology

11. Drivers for Executing PV Technology-Safety Management
System
Higher trust
and credibility
among all lab
members
Reduced health
care treatment
cost
Identify gaps and
tighten up
procedures
Fewer
incidents and
injuries
Standardize
practices
Clearer
understanding of
roles &
responsibilities

12. Conclusion
Effectiveness of policies
Excellence in leadership and
management
Total quality by participation Utilization of Safety Contributions
Comprehensive and widening
OSH both as a specific process
and embedded in the work
system and processes
OSH culture
To reiterate the main ideas, we conclude that generally, end users-
could follow, utilize and contribute practically in terms of all key
starting points