RAMS for Solar Panel Installers
Generate compliant risk assessments for rooftop PV installation, ground-mount arrays, and battery storage in under 2 minutes. WAHR, EAWR, and CDM 2015 cited automatically.
Built with UK health & safety regulations in mind
Free Solar Panel Installers RAMS Template
A blank solar panel installersrisk assessment & method statement template — with the 5×5 risk matrix, the construction hazards to consider for this trade, and the relevant UK legislation already listed. Fill it in by hand, or generate a completed one in two minutes.
Or skip the blank page — generate a filled-in Solar Panel InstallersRAMS in 2 minutes →
Solar panel installation combines two of the most dangerous activities in construction: working at height on rooftops and working with electrical systems that cannot be fully de-energised. PV panels generate DC voltage whenever exposed to light, making traditional isolation procedures impossible during daylight hours. This creates a unique electrical hazard that standard electrical RAMS do not address.
The rooftop element introduces falls from height (the leading cause of construction fatalities in the UK), falls through fragile roof materials, and the additional challenges of working on sloped surfaces in varying weather conditions. Commercial installations on flat roofs require edge protection. Domestic installations require scaffold or equivalent access.
swiftRMS generates solar installer RAMS in under 2 minutes, covering both the work at height and the DC electrical hazards specific to PV installation. WAHR 2005, EAWR 1989, and BS EN 62446 are cited automatically.
What Solar Panel Installers RAMS Must Include
Compliant risk assessments for solar panel installers work must cover these specific areas
Roof access and edge protection
Under WAHR 2005, collective protection comes first. Document the access method (scaffold, tower or MEWP), guardrails at eaves level for pitched roofs, perimeter edge protection for flat roofs, and harness use only where collective measures are impracticable.
Fragile surface assessment
Roof lights, fibre cement sheets and corroded metal decking will not bear a person's weight. The RAMS must record the roof survey, mark fragile areas, and specify crawl boards, netting or covers before anyone crosses the roof.
DC electrical safe system of work
PV strings are live in daylight and cannot be isolated at source. Document the connection sequence, use of DC-rated tools and connectors, opaque panel covers where needed, and voltage testing before touching any conductor, in line with EAWR 1989.
Manual handling and panel hoisting
Panels are awkward, wind-catching loads carried at height. Under MHOR 1992, specify two-person handling, mechanical hoists or panel lifts for roof loading, and safe stacking and securing of panels on the roof before fixing.
Weather limits and stop-work triggers
Set explicit limits: maximum wind speed for handling panels at height, no roof work in wet, icy or lightning conditions, and who makes the call. Weather rules that live only in someone's head do not satisfy a principal contractor.
Competency and standards
Record the qualifications on the job: roofers trained for the access method, and the AC connection made by an electrician working to BS 7671, with commissioning and documentation to BS EN 62446. Reference MCS scheme requirements where the installation is registered.
Battery storage controls
Lithium-ion battery systems add fire and thermal runaway risk. Document the installation location and ventilation, DC isolation arrangements, manufacturer's installation instructions, and emergency procedures for a damaged or overheating unit.
Common Solar Panel Installers Tasks That Require RAMS
Generate RAMS for any of these tasks in minutes, not hours
Domestic pitched roof PV installation
Scaffold access, roof anchor and rail fixing, panel loading and DC string wiring. Falls from height, live DC conductors and manual handling of panels up to the roof dominate the risk register. WAHR 2005 and EAWR 1989 lead the controls.
Commercial flat roof PV installation
Ballasted or fixed systems on membrane roofs. Edge protection along all open perimeters, roof loading checks, safe zones for material storage, and management of multiple trades sharing the roof under CDM 2015.
Ground-mount solar array
Pile driving or screw foundations, frame assembly and panel fitting at ground level. Fall risk drops but plant operations, buried services checks before piling, repetitive manual handling and site vehicle movements take over.
Battery storage installation
Fixing and commissioning lithium-ion battery units, often in lofts, garages or plant rooms. Heavy single-item lifts, DC electrical connections, fire and thermal runaway precautions, and ventilation requirements all need documented controls.
Inverter installation and replacement
Working on the DC and AC sides of a live generating system. The RAMS must cover the isolation sequence from the manufacturer's instructions, voltage testing before work, and safe termination of live DC strings.
In-roof integrated PV systems
Stripping tiles or slates, fitting flashing kits and battens, then installing panels as the roof covering. Combines full roofing hazards, including fragile underlays and dropped materials, with live DC wiring as strings are connected.
Panel maintenance and cleaning
Accessing existing arrays for inspection, cleaning or fault-finding. The system remains live in daylight, anchor points may be unverified, and water on the roof adds slip risk. Access equipment and DC safety checks must be re-established on every visit.
UK Legislation for Solar Panel Installers Risk Assessments
Every RAMS automatically cites the relevant UK legislation and industry standards
Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR)
Applies to every rooftop element of PV installation. Work must be planned, supervised and carried out by competent people, with collective fall protection (scaffold, guardrails, edge protection) preferred over personal fall arrest.
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR)
PV panels generate DC voltage whenever exposed to light, so parts of the system are always live during the working day. EAWR requires a safe system of work for the connection sequence, testing and any work on or near live conductors.
CDM Regulations 2015
Installation, alteration and maintenance of solar PV on buildings is construction work. On projects with more than one contractor a principal contractor is appointed, and roof condition and fragile materials must appear in the pre-construction information.
BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations
The IET Wiring Regulations govern the AC side of the installation and, through Section 712, PV supply systems specifically. The RAMS should confirm the electrical work is carried out and certificated by a competent electrician to BS 7671.
BS EN 62446
Sets the requirements for documentation, commissioning tests and inspection of grid-connected PV systems. Commissioning against this standard is expected under MCS and by most commercial clients.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
Covers scaffolds and towers, MEWPs, panel hoists, power tools and test instruments. Equipment must be suitable, inspected and used only by trained operatives.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Panels, mounting rails, inverters and batteries are heavy or awkward loads, often moved at height. The RAMS must document mechanical lifting aids, two-person carries and safe roof loading arrangements.
How swiftRMS Generates Solar Panel Installers RAMS
Describe the installation in plain English: roof type and pitch, access method, system size, whether battery storage is included, and how many operatives are on the job. swiftRMS builds the hazard register from that description, pairing work at height controls with the PV-specific electrical risks that generic templates miss.
The generated document cites WAHR 2005, EAWR 1989, CDM 2015 and BS 7671 where relevant, sets out the DC connection sequence and weather limits, and is ready for review in around 2 minutes. You check it, adjust site specifics, and submit the PDF to the main contractor or client.
Frequently Asked Questions
PV panels generate DC voltage whenever exposed to light and cannot be fully isolated during daylight hours. The DC side of a PV system is always live during daytime. Controls include: covering panels with opaque material before disconnection, using DC-rated PPE and tools, testing for voltage before touching any connection, and following the specific isolation sequence in the inverter manufacturer's instructions.
Under WAHR 2005, edge protection is the preferred method of fall prevention for roof work. For flat roofs, temporary guardrails or proprietary edge protection systems are required along any unprotected edge. For pitched roofs, full scaffold with guardrails at eaves level is standard. Where edge protection is not practicable, safety nets or personal fall protection (harness and inertia reel to a tested anchor point) may be used.
Yes. The installation, modification, or maintenance of solar PV systems on buildings is construction work under CDM 2015. If the project involves more than one contractor, a principal designer and principal contractor must be appointed. The pre-construction information must include the roof condition and any fragile materials.
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