Emerging OSH Issues in Installation and Maintenance of Floating Solar Photovoltaic Projects and Their Link with Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Emerging issues of occupational safety and health (OSH) in floating solar photovoltaic projects (FSPV) have rarely been addressed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The current scoping review has been planned to demonstrate OSH issues experienced by the workers engaged in the installation and maintenance of FSPV projects and existing ergonomics design interventions in the solar photovoltaic industry with a focus on the FSPV sector. Methods: A literature review was conducted from four major electronic databases (Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus) using predefined keywords and following the PRISMA framework for the period 1965-2020. A total of 49 studies under five headings, namely a) overview of key reasons for the emergence of floating solar photovoltaic projects, b) occupational risks of workers engaged in the solar PV industry/FSPV sector, c) occupational risks in workplaces/occupations similar to floating solar photovoltaics projects, d) availability of training modules and occupational standards, and e) design interventions/approaches in the solar PV industry/floating photovoltaics sector were analyzed. Results: It emerged that workers are exposed to multifarious occupational risk factors such as heat, solar radiation, ergonomic risks, electrocution, fire, hazardous substances, adverse weather conditions, and psychosocial factors. These risks have not been adequately addressed with required interventions in the FSPV sector. Intervention opportunities include designing innovative tools, lowering of loads, redesigning workplace layouts, introducing job aids, automation, task rotation, job enlargement, design of training modules, OSH standards and changes in work organization/shift, etc. Conclusion:This review is a first-of-its-kind effort to highlight the contextual risk factors in the emerging FSPV sector and the need for addressing them through ergonomics design interventions for successfully achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Risk Assessment and Policy Recommendations for a Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FSPV) System

“…Risk can be characterized by the likelihood of its occurrence and the potential magnitude of its consequences. Risk can also be defined as the "effect of uncertainty on objectives and is often expressed in terms of a combination of the consequences of an event (including changes in circumstances) and the associated likelihood of occurrence" [21]- [24].…”

“…Conducting a risk assessment for FSPV systems requires tools to identify potential hazards, evaluate the likelihood and consequences of each hazard, and develop effective mitigation strategies, as shown in Figure 4 [37], [38]- [43]. The scope of risk assessment and policy development for FSPV typically includes technical, financial, environmental, social, and regulatory risks [21].…”

“…Figures 7 and 8 show the framework and steps, respectively, for the risk assessment methodology from the identification of the hazards to its monitoring, which includes the conduct of risk assessments, known as the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) methodology. The HIRA methodology was applied in a study by [21], as published in the Journal of Risk Management and Healthcare Policy [21]. In addition, [21] discussed the potential occupational safety and health (OSH) risks associated with the installation and maintenance of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, which are becoming increasingly popular as renewable energy sources [21].…”

Effect of the level of manual performance disability caused by exposure to vibration among sailors working on sailing speed vessels

“…These factors will have destructive effects on offshore users. Most of these effects in the long run will cause serious defects for floating users [ 10 ]. These include damage to the nervous and vascular systems and musculoskeletal disorders [ 11 ].…”

Risk Management Based on NPV-at-Risk: A Case Study in Floating Solar Power Plant Project

“…In addition, sun radiation affects the total electricity generated and affects the company's income [7,8]. Another risk to consider is the failure of the Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) system, which affects the operation and maintenance costs [9][10][11]. Hence, a management risk investigation is needed to systematically and effectively manage and mitigate these risks [12][13][14].…”