Solar Safety Training - SST FAQs

Refers to version 1 (02.07.2025)

Who is the Solar Safety Training standard intended for?
The Solar Safety Training standard is intended for personnel who will be working in the solar industry or related fields and will have their duties in a solar utility scale work environment, usually in physical contact with a solar array. Personnel performing job functions assessed as having risks by their employer, duty holder, or due to local regulations, where Solar Safety Training modules may help mitigate those risks.

Is the Solar Safety Training relevant for all areas of the Solar industry?
Utility Scale Solar PV workers are the main target audience for training developed from the Solar Safety Training standard.

For the purposes of the GWO training standards, the term ‘Utility Scale Solar PV’ refers to a solar working environment at the industrial scale, which is distinct from a rooftop installed solar PV work environment, at either domestic or commercial scale.

There is no specific scale at which at solar PV array must be considered utility scale and the standard can also be used to train workforce performing tasks at smaller, net-metered installations, which otherwise would not be associated with utility scale operations.

What is the difference between GWO Solar Safety Training and GWO Basic Safety Training for the wind industry?
Safety training for a solar workplace environment is substantially different from Safety Training for a wind workplace environment. The Solar Safety Training standard is designed to equip participants with an awareness of the particular hazards encountered when working within the utility scale Solar PV industry and be equipped to control and mitigate these hazards.

Are there any similarities between GWO Solar Safety Training and GWO Basic Safety Training for wind?
To some extent there is a modular topic overlap between GWO Solar Safety Training and GWO Basic Safety Training for wind. The context is, however, different.

Can training record holders of the GWO wind BST-First Aid module automatically be awarded a training record for the GWO Solar First Aid module?
No. The solar work environment context is unique, and this must be reflected in any training before delegates can be awarded a training record for Solar First Aid. Individuals who hold a training record for the GWO wind First Aid module can acquire a solar First Aid training record through the official GWO REcognition scheme.

Can training record holders of the wind GWO BST modules "Fire Awareness", "Manual Handling" and "Working at Heights" automatically be awarded a training record for the GWO Safe Solar Work module?
No. The solar work environment context is unique along with multiple Learning Objectives and Learning Activities found in the Safe Solar Work module. This must be reflected in any training before delegates can be awarded a training record for the Safe Solar Work module. Individuals who hold training records for some or all the relevant GWO BST modules for wind can acquire a Safe Solar Work training record through the official GWO REcognition scheme.

What is the difference between First Aid and First Aid Awareness?
The First Aid and First Aid Awareness modules provide two different training options for the workforce in the Solar PV industry who require training to respond to a medical emergency incident in the solar work environment. (See section 5.1 of the Solar Safety Training Standard for exact details on this matter)

Duty-holders should determine the most appropriate first aid training for their workforce in accordance with workplace risks assessment, the designated roles and duties of their workforce and any local regulatory requirements.

How did GWO design a Solar industry standard?
This standard has been developed in response to the demand for recognisable safety training in the solar industry and has been prepared in co-operation between the members of GWO and the Global Solar Council (GSC) based on risk assessments and factual incident and accident statistics.

The Global Solar Council is a non-profit trade body uniting the voice of the solar industry, representing every part of the solar PV value chain across the world. The Global Solar Council work directly with industry associations, private sector, governments, international institutions and NGOs to advocate, educate, and strengthen the solar industry.

Will there be a refresher version of the Solar Safety Standard?
Yes, a refresher standard will be launched at a later stage.