Using drones to conduct safe inspections of commercial solar PV installations
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NT WorkSafe regulates electrical safety and compliance in the Northern Territory. They conduct inspections of solar PV installations, which present challenges due to roof access risks. Drones could help inspect solar panels safely by providing overhead images without risk of falls or manual handling. However, using drones requires training, licensing, permissions and developing compliance procedures. While drones may improve safety and access, their costs and operational limitations must be considered versus traditional inspection methods.
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Using drones to conduct safe inspections of commercial solar PV installations
- 1. Using drones to conduct safe inspections of solar PV installations Reg Dwyer, Senior WorkSafe Inspector
- 2. NT WorkSafe What does NT WorkSafe do? • Legislation • Inspections • Licensing • Small business • Workers Compensation
- 3. Electrical Safety THE TEAM Six Electrical inspectors 1. Five in Darwin 2. One in Alice Springs
- 4. Functions • Regulate electrical safety and compliance in the NT • Inspections • Incidents • Investigations • Regulations • Standards development with; • Other entities in the NT • Other regulators – Australia and New Zealand.
- 5. Solar PV inspections • Solar PV presents specific challenges and risks • Approximately 1 Megawatt each month installed in the NT • Domestic and • Commercial The majority of solar PV installed on the roof
- 6. Accessing installations safely Solar PV on a Freestanding roof 17 Metres to lower edge rising to 21 metres at centre SpanLift – Palmerston BMX
- 7. Accessing the installation Solar PV on roof of Elevated tropical style house
- 8. What are we looking for in installations? • Safety – free from defects • Injury from the installation - electrical • Damage caused by the installation – fire – loose equipment • Compliance with standards and regulations • To ensure the safety over the life of the installation • Long term operation where possible • Safety of the community
- 9. Safety and compliance Solar Fire Cause: Suspected moisture in solar isolators.
- 10. Safety and compliance Effect of fire can be significant. Cause: Suspected to be due to rain leaking into electrical components.
- 11. Accessing the installation • Accessing the roof • Ladders – manual handling • Roof safety • Edge protection • Harness – wearing - securing - using • Securing the harness point • Heat, carrying equipment • Slips, trips and falls
- 12. Inspection Example Access ? 17 Metres to lower edge 21 metres at apex No ready means of: • Access • Edge protection • Fall prevention SpanLift – Palmerston BMX
- 13. Logistics of using a Drone What do we need? • A suitable drone • Training • Licences • Clearances • Permission • Insurance • Procedure
- 14. Selecting a suitable drone DJI Phantom 4 Pro
- 15. Selecting a suitable drone DJI Phantom 4 Pro • Stable • Good quality • Easy to fly • Flight time • Collision alarms • High definition images • Cost effective • Spare parts available
- 16. Training – need to be licensed: • Air space zone classifications • Within 3 Nautical Miles of a controlled airfield • Restricted zones • Danger Zones • Uncontrolled airfields • RAAF controlled areas • NO FLY Zones • National Parks • Sacred land • Unrestricted zones – basic controls.
- 17. Training Remote Pilot Licence (RePl) for commercial work includes air radio operator • 5 days training theory and practice • Flight training • Emergency procedures • Techniques and Practice.
- 18. CASA requires compliance: • Drone registration • Remote Operators Certificate (ReOC) • Development of procedures and manuals • Chief Pilot • Chief Maintenance Officer Licence to operate commercially Practices
- 19. Flight authorisations are required to fly within 3 Nautical Miles (5.5. Km) of a controlled airfield. Unrestricted zones allow flights following Rules for drones. Flight Authorisation
- 20. Unrestricted Zones Fly your drone (25 Kg or less): • No closer than 3nm (5.5. Km) of a controlled airport. • Within visual line of sight • Below 120 metres (400 ft) • In daylight only • No closer than 30 Metres to any person not associated with the drone. • Not above any person • Not near an emergency situation • Not near any aircraft.
- 21. Permissions Gain the permission of the owner or occupier before inspection. Explain the safety requirements Be aware of privacy concerns.
- 22. Procedures • Pre – planning • Viability • Location • Authorisation • Weather and conditions • Physical restrictions • Moral considerations
- 23. Is the solution efficient? • Removes: • Risk of roof access • Manual Handling of ladders • Slips, trips and falls • Rescue requirement • Damage to installation – with care.
- 24. Achievements • Access areas that would be dangerous by roof access. • High definition images • Overhead images to clearly identify the location • Underneath panels • Faster • Copy of overhead image to the owner. • Reduce if not eliminate injury risks.
- 25. Limitations Cost of Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) – drone Training Learning competencies Developing requirements for CASA compliance Internal processes Procedures Operational limitations. Maintenance – Lithium Ion battery life.
- 26. Support CASA provides both online and telephone services to assist. CASA approved software apps • Location • Safety and • Compliance with rules. Local companies that provide support and assistance.
- 27. Success or failure ? Benefits: • Safety improvement • Accessibility of unreachable areas • Versatility of being able to deploy in your own timeframe • Due to the number of flights performed – cost and time effective
- 28. Success (glass half full view) Success Success Success Success
- 29. BMX Club solar clamps
- 30. BMX overhead Solar DC Isolator close up
- 32. Conduit not sealed No sharp edge protection
Editor's Notes
- Explain NT WorkSafe role in simple terms relevant to high school students Briefly discuss WHS Legislation Act = law = rules for everyone in workplaces i.e. worker, boss, supervisor, visitor Regulations – specify how rules can be met Code of Practice – minimum requirements showing what is reasonably practicable Regulator material – safety alerts on specific incidents or advise on updates etc.
- Explain NT WorkSafe role in simple terms relevant to high school students Briefly discuss WHS Legislation Act = law = rules for everyone in workplaces i.e. worker, boss, supervisor, visitor Regulations – specify how rules can be met Code of Practice – minimum requirements showing what is reasonably practicable Regulator material – safety alerts on specific incidents or advise on updates etc.
- Explain NT WorkSafe role in simple terms relevant to high school students Briefly discuss WHS Legislation Act = law = rules for everyone in workplaces i.e. worker, boss, supervisor, visitor Regulations – specify how rules can be met Code of Practice – minimum requirements showing what is reasonably practicable Regulator material – safety alerts on specific incidents or advise on updates etc.
- Show Young Workers Rights and Responsibilities Video - included in this slide Recap at the end – ask students what are their rights and responsibilities in the workplace
- Access problem Safety Time Value for effort.
- Access Damage to gardens Safety on Roof Rescue Damage to roof.
- 20 Mpx allows zoom and cropping to focus on point of
- Access Damage to gardens Safety on Roof Rescue Damage to roof.
- Access Damage to gardens Safety on Roof Rescue Damage to roof.
- Access Damage to gardens Safety on Roof Rescue Damage to roof.
- Access Damage to gardens Safety on Roof Rescue Damage to roof.
- Access Damage to gardens Safety on Roof Rescue Damage to roof.
- Access Damage to gardens Safety on Roof Rescue Damage to roof.
- Access Damage to gardens Safety on Roof Rescue Damage to roof.
- Need to understand
- RePL minimum level acceptable
- CASA requires the organisation to hold an operators certificate. ReOC
- As string solar cables can carry in the region of 1000 volts and 10 to 20 amps without a protection device to turn them off in a fault condition, the requirement for quality work in the installation is paramount. We check all sections where possible from the roof right through to the final metering solution.
- As string solar cables can carry in the region of 1000 volts and 10 to 20 amps without a protection device to turn them off in a fault condition, the requirement for quality work in the installation is paramount. We check all sections where possible from the roof right through to the final metering solution.
- As string solar cables can carry in the region of 1000 volts and 10 to 20 amps without a protection device to turn them off in a fault condition, the requirement for quality work in the installation is paramount. We check all sections where possible from the roof right through to the final metering solution.
- Discuss - Who cares about your health and safety while at work? Parents Friends Family Girlfriend / boyfriend Sports team Other workers – how do you think they are affected by an incident? Video – Ask students who has a duty to do what in this scenario? Worker – duty not to use faulty safety equipment and report hazards Employer/PCBU – duty to ensure equipment is maintained and safe for use etc. Some historical information to discuss during the presentation if there’s time or question comes up about history of WHS. Where did safety law come from? It can be traced back to 1507 France. To help stop the plague a law was brought in that stated; No gambling or fornicating or cursing Avoid other sinful excesses that are likely to arouse the anger of the gods Some facts to discuss if time allows In 1968 in the Vietnam war – 14000 soldiers killed, 46000 wounded In the same year in the USA – 14000 killed at work, 2.5 million suffered disabling injuries 1802 – British Health & Morals of Apprentices Act No night work No shift over 12 hours Toilets to be provided Clothes to be provided Religious instruction to be provided 1844 – Factories Act No children under 8 to be employed Meals not in the workplace Workers 8-13 not to work more than 6.5 hours a day Alternate days of school work