Green jobs and worker fatalities: Causes and prevention. The California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program

The California Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, has established the California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (CA/FACE) program for the surveillance and investigation of fatal work injuries. The goal of the program is to prevent fatal work injuries by identifying high-risk work processes, developing prevention strategies, and informing those who can intervene in the workplace. The State of California's commitment to zero waste and sustainable energy will result in the continued growth of green jobs. The challenge is to ensure that these jobs are safe for workers. Five CA/FACE fatality investigations involving “green jobs” took place during 2008-2009. Two workers were installing rooftop solar panels when they died: one worker was electrocuted and fell to his death after a 20-foot metal bracket made contact with a high voltage power line, the second worker fell through a roof skylight after he tripped while carrying solar panels. Three workers were crushed in cardboard baler or bottle bale breaker machines when part of their bodies entered the machinery, pulling them in. Employers should develop, implement, and enforce a fall protection program, ensure safety programs include electrical hazard recognition, and conduct a daily job hazard analysis of the work area before solar panel installation begins. Additionally, machinery should be guarded by barriers or safety gates, and lockout/tagout procedures should be implemented and enforced when machinery is being serviced.