Dodgy electricians caught out over unsafe solar panel installations

In the rush to make the most of generous government solar panel rebates, dodgy electricians are being caught out over dozens of unsafe installations as the details of workers suffering serious injuries are uncovered.

Dodgy electricians are being caught out over dozens of unsafe solar panel installations.

Dodgy electricians have been caught out over dozens of unsafe solar panel installations amid rampant demand to claim generous rebates from the government’s $1.3 billion scheme.

WorkSafe inspectors have completed 72 inspections of solar panel installations this year, shutting down work at 15 locations and demanding improvements at another 28 sites because of safety fears.

It comes amid warnings unwitting Victorians are signing up to interest-free deals to get panels only to be stung with exorbitant charges when fees kick in.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal recent incidents include a worker in his 40s crashing through a spotlight and falling 4.5m to the ground while he installed solar panels without proper protection.

He was rushed to hospital, while another man in his 20s also needed medical treatment when he was hit on the head by a drill being handed to him by a colleague.

The state government’s “Solar Homes” program — helping 770,000 Victorian households get solar power over a decade — has sparked significant interest from consumers.

Dodgy electricians are being caught out over dozens of unsafe solar panel installations.

Since August, 32,000 rebates have been delivered, with the program to restart from July 1 offering another 40,000 domestic rebates for rooftop solar systems over the next financial year.

WorkSafe health and safety executive director Julie Nielsen said solar installers needed to be appropriately licensed, trained and supervised.

“Failing to take a safety-first approach when installing solar can have deadly consequences” Ms Nielsen said.

WorkSafe last year secured a $70,000 fine against a building company which had not provide fall protection for a worker installing solar panels. He fell 5m off a roof, breaking nine ribs and bones in his neck.

Another solar company was fined $30,000 after a worker crashed through a skylight and broke their hip. The skylight had not been covered and workers were not wearing harnesses.

Ms Nielsen said WorkSafe “will not hesitate to act against those who take shortcuts or fail to take appropriate measures to control the risks to their workers’ safety”.

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Consumer Action Law Centre chief executive officer Gerard Brody — whose organisation has made four complaints to Solar Victoria since it was formed to manage the solar rollout — said while the scheme was well intentioned dodgy businesses were using it to take advantage of Victorians.

Some had used telemarketers and door-to-door sales pests to pressure householders into signing up.

They were also being offered interest-free payment schemes which became unaffordable when the honeymoon period ended.

“The scheme has encouraged businesses to enter the market that don’t use honest tactics to sign people up,” Mr Brody said.

A new solar retailer code banning door-to-door sales and telemarketing was needed, he said.

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