Safety Equipment for Solar Installations

Working in solar or electrical isn’t your average desk job. One minute you’re wiring up a new future, the next you’re wrestling heavy panels under the sun or balancing on rooftops. It’s tough, technical, and rewarding — but it comes with serious risks

Between high voltages, fall hazards, and fire risks, even the most experienced solar panel installers can find themselves in serious trouble without the right protection. That’s why proper safety gear isn’t just something to tick off a checklist, it’s essential to getting everyone home safely.

Keep your team safe with a clear Toolbox Talk Template

For more on staying safe on site, check out our Electrical Safety Equipment and PPE and How to Run an Electrical Safety Toolbox Talk.

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1. Hard hat
2. Insulated gloves
3. Eye & face protection
4. Safety boots
5. Protective clothing
6. Fall arrest system
7. Fire safety
8. Respiratory protection
9. Hearing protection
10. Sun protection
11. Important solar certifications

1. Hard hat

A hard hat isn’t optional when you’re working around moving panels, tools, and low-hanging hazards. You should wear one any time there’s a risk of falling objects, shifting panels, or working at height — especially when installing panels on rooftops, lifting equipment overhead, or operating near scaffolding and racking systems. Look for helmets that meet ANSI/ISEA Z89.1, AS/NZS 1801, or EN 397 standards. Replace your hard hat if you spot cracks, UV damage, or after any heavy impact.

Our top pick: Petzl — VERTEX® VENT

2. Insulated gloves

Solar workers should be able to rely on their hands staying safe throughout the day's demands. Use insulated gloves that meet ASTM D120, EN 60903, or AS/NZS 2161.3 standards whenever you're working on or near live circuits — such as during wiring, connecting panels, or troubleshooting inverter systems. Add cut-resistant gloves when handling sharp-edged solar panels, mounting hardware, or racking equipment, especially during transport, installation, and framing work.

Our top pick: Portwest A721 Anti Impact Safety Work Gloves 

3. Eye & face protection

Protect your eyes from dust, sparks, flying debris, arc flashes, and harsh environmental conditions like wind, UV exposure, or sudden rain with safety glasses or face shields rated to ANSI Z87.1 (USA), BS EN 166 (UK), or AS/NZS 1337.1 (AU/NZ) standards. Use clear lenses for indoor or low-light work, and switch to tinted or polarised lenses for bright, outdoor sites to reduce glare and eye strain.

Our top pick: Natty Workwear — Kenneth

4. Safety boots

When you’re hauling panels, climbing ladders, or working on a rooftop, the right boots are a must to keep you steadily on your feet. Look for steel-toe boots with electrical hazard protection that meet ASTM F2413 (USA), EN ISO 20345 (UK/EU), or AS 2210.3 (AU/NZ) standards. Slip-resistant soles are essential too, especially when you’re dealing with steep pitches, wet surfaces, or dusty worksites.

Our pick: Thorogood — 1957 Series 6" Waterproof Steel Toe

For more options, check out The Best Work Boots for Electricians

5. Protective clothing

Solar installations often mean working around live electrical systems, exposed wiring, and metal frames — sometimes all at once. That’s why flame-resistant (FR) clothing isn’t optional. Look for gear that meets NFPA 70E (USA), IEC 61482 (UK/EU), or AS/NZS 4836 (AU/NZ) standards to protect against arc flashes and electrical hazards. High-visibility clothing is just as important, especially when you’re working on busy construction sites, near roadways, or coordinating with crane and lifting crews.

Our top pick: Trade Mutt — Men's Snazzy Yellow Day/Night Hi Vis 2.0 Full Button Work Shirt

6. Fall arrest system

Whether you’re installing rooftop solar systems, working on elevated ground-mount arrays, or handling tricky angled surfaces, fall protection is essential. Every installer working at height needs a full fall arrest system: harnesses, lanyards, anchors, and self-retracting lifelines that meet ANSI Z359 (USA), EN 361 (UK/EU), or AS/NZS 1891 (AU/NZ) standards. Solar businesses can’t afford to treat fall protection as a backup plan — it has to be built into every job from the start.

Our top pick: Guardian B7-COMFORT HARNESS

For more help, check out How to Use a Safety Harness for Roofing and The Best Roof Safety Equipment

7. Fire safety

Solar work isn’t just about electrical risks — it also brings general fire hazards, especially when you’re dealing with battery storage or inverter systems. Always keep a Class C fire extinguisher for electrical fires, and an ABC extinguisher for general site risks close by. If you’re working around batteries or doing inverter setups, make sure you’ve also got smoke detectors installed and fire blankets on hand. Quick access to the right gear can make all the difference in an emergency.

Local retailers can supply industrial strength fire extinguishers suitable to local laws.

Important: Fire extinguishers must be refilled immediately after any use. Even if they’re never used, they still need routine servicing — typically every six to twelve years from the manufacture date — to make sure they’ll work when it counts.

8. Respiratory protection

During solar installations, tasks like drilling through roofs, cutting rails, or working around insulation can kick up a lot of dust and fine debris. In enclosed spaces — like roof cavities, battery rooms, or inverter enclosures — that dust can hang in the air and cause serious long-term lung damage. That’s why solar technicians should wear respirators approved under OSHA (USA), COSHH (UK), or WorkSafe (AU/NZ) standards whenever working in confined, dusty, or poorly ventilated areas.

Our top pick: GVS Elipse P100 Respirator

9. Hearing protection

Solar sites can get noisy fast — especially when you're drilling, cutting mounting systems, running generators, or working around heavy equipment. To protect your hearing, use proper earplugs or earmuffs rated for construction noise. Even short bursts of high noise levels can cause long-term damage, so make hearing protection part of your everyday kit on busy installs.

Our top pick: Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Earmuff

10. Sun protection 

Long hours on rooftops and open sites mean serious UV exposure for solar techs. Protect yourself with high-SPF sunscreen, UV-rated long-sleeve clothing, and wide-brim hats or helmet attachments. When you're installing panels or running cabling under direct sun, covering up isn’t just about comfort — it's about preventing long-term skin damage and heat-related illnesses.

Our top pick: NIVEA SUN Protect and Moisture Sunscreen SPF50+ (1L Value Size)

For more options, check out The Best Sunscreen For Tradies

11. Important certs for solar installations

Solar work comes with its own unique risks: sun exposure, battery hazards, and working at heights. To make sure your installations run smoothly, Tradify also offers in-app solar PV certification and inspection templates:

• Solar PV Array Test Certificate
• Solar PV Client Handover Certificate
• Solar PV System Inspection Report
• Solar PV Installation Checklist
• Solar PV System Verification Certificate
• Solar PV G83/2 SSEG Installation Commissioning Confirmation

Ready to get your business sorted? Try Tradify free for 14-days or book a live walkthrough to see the app in action.