Hundreds, or even thousands, of people have been killed or injured while working around power lines, or even when working on common household electrical circuits. In fact, ordinary 120 volt house circuits are the most common source of fatal electrical accidents. Therefore, to help you with ‘Safe Job Performance’, we offer the following safety tips for working on Solar PV Installation. However, keep in mind that if you are not an electrician, the best tip we can offer is to always consult a qualified licensed electrician. If you are an electrician, these tips are reminders as to how to stay safe.

1. NEVER use bare wire for exposed circuits or open construction with exposed connections
2. NEVER work on electrical wiring with the conductors energized. Remember that all Solar PV Panels produce energy in the presence of sunlight, even when they are not connected to a circuit.
3. ALWAYS use a volt-meter or other voltage tester, to check for the presence of voltage. This ensure the circuit is “dead” even after you turn off the switch or circuit breaker. It is VERY IMPORTANT that YOU personally turn off the switch or the circuit breaker and tag it before you check for the presence of voltage with a meter. DO NOT rely on someone else turning it off for you.
4. BE AWARE that destructive “transient” (stray) voltages and currents from lightening and power line faults can reach PV equipment you may be working on. These transient energy sources can come from outside antennas, telephone and CableTV cables, or metallic roof structures. Never work on electrical circuits during bad or inclement weather.
5. ALWAYS use protective mats and gloves when working in high-voltage environments such as power distribution stations, power transmission stations, cell sites, and PCS sites where antenna towers and power lines can be a source of transient voltages.
6. ALWAYS keep a safe distance from energized electrical circuits.
7. NEVER assume that a circuit is zero potential even after the switch is turned off. Capacitors in a circuit can retain a voltage charge for a long period of time.
8. If you must hold a voltage probe to take a measurement, a good safety practice is to keep the other hand in your pocket to avoid touching a ground point with it and causing hand-to-hand current flow though your body.
9. NEVER work alone. Always make sure someone is in the room with you and be sure they know how to safely turn off the power. If they grab hold of you while you are energized and the power still on, they will be shocked as well.
10. ALWAYS replace fuses and circuit breakers with only with replacements having proper ratings.