The International Solar Cleaning Academy (ISCA) is saddened to learn of the death of a worker who reportedly fell whilst cleaning solar panels in Goa, India.
According to reports, the worker died following a fall whilst carrying out solar panel cleaning activities. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
Source:
https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/man-dies-after-fall-while-cleaning-solar-panels/148861.html
While the full circumstances remain under investigation, the incident highlights a concern that ISCA has been raising for many years:
Solar panel cleaning is not a low-risk cleaning activity.
It combines two of the most significant workplace hazards found anywhere in industry:
- Working at height
- Exposure to electricity
Unfortunately, the Goa incident is not an isolated case.
A Growing List of Fatalities
Over the past several years, ISCA has identified multiple fatalities involving individuals cleaning solar panels across different countries and continents.
Although the circumstances differ, the underlying causes remain strikingly similar.
Brazil – Fatal Electrocution While Cleaning Solar Panels
In 2022, a 44-year-old woman died after reportedly suffering an electric shock whilst cleaning solar panels at a poultry facility in Nova Mutum, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that photovoltaic systems can present serious electrical hazards, particularly when cleaning activities are carried out around live equipment.
Source:
https://canalsolar.com.br/en/woman-dies-cleaning-solar-panels/
Australia – Fatal Fall Through Skylight
In 2023, a solar panel cleaner died after falling through a skylight whilst cleaning solar panels on the roof of a workshop in Brisbane.
The worker reportedly fell approximately five metres.
The incident highlighted one of the most common hazards faced by rooftop solar cleaners: fragile roof surfaces hidden amongst otherwise accessible work areas.
United States – Rooftop Fall During Solar Panel Cleaning
In California, a solar panel cleaner suffered fatal injuries after falling from a residential rooftop whilst carrying out cleaning work.
The official investigation highlighted concerns regarding fall protection arrangements and serves as a reminder that residential solar cleaning can be just as hazardous as larger commercial projects.
Source:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/FACE/Pages/24CA003.aspx
India – Fall From Seven-Storey Building
In Shahapur, Maharashtra, India, a worker died after falling from a seven-storey building whilst cleaning rooftop solar panels.
The incident demonstrates how rapidly routine cleaning activities can become life-threatening when working at height.
India – Worker Falls Through Fragile Roof Sheet
Later in 2025, Hanumanth Pundalik Rugi died after reportedly being instructed to clean rooftop solar panels without adequate fall protection.
Reports indicate that he stepped onto a fragile transparent roofing sheet which gave way beneath him, resulting in a fall of approximately 50 feet.
Pakistan – Fatal Electrocution Whilst Cleaning Solar Panels
In another incident, Muhammad Saqlain Khan died after reportedly receiving an electric shock whilst cleaning a rooftop solar panel installation.
The case reinforces the fact that electrocution risks within the solar cleaning sector are not theoretical. They are real, and they can be fatal.
Source:
https://www.inp.net.pk/news-detail/pakistan/man-electrocuted-1
The Same Hazards Keep Appearing
When ISCA reviewed these incidents, a clear pattern emerged.
Almost every fatality identified could be linked to one of two hazards:
1. Falls From Height
Workers cleaning solar panels routinely operate:
- On rooftops
- Around roof edges
- Near skylights and rooflights
- On fragile roofing materials
- On wet surfaces
Many incidents involve inadequate planning, insufficient fall protection or a lack of understanding of rooftop hazards.
2. Electrocution
Solar panel cleaners often work around systems capable of generating hundreds or thousands of volts of direct current electricity.
Electrical hazards can arise from:
- Damaged cables
- Exposed connectors
- Failed equipment
- Improper cleaning methods
- Wet working environments
- Conductive tools and equipment
This is one reason why ISCA continues to advocate for electrical hazard awareness training for anyone involved in solar panel cleaning.
The Industry Must Stop Treating Solar Cleaning as “Just Cleaning”
One of the most dangerous misconceptions within the industry is the belief that solar panel cleaning is simply another cleaning task.
In reality, solar panel cleaners are routinely exposed to the same hazards faced by roofers, maintenance engineers and electrical workers.
Every one of the incidents referenced above involved known hazards that are already well understood within the wider health and safety profession.
The challenge is ensuring that those lessons reach the solar cleaning sector before more lives are lost.
A Call for Greater Professionalisation
As solar installations continue to expand across the world, the need for structured training, competent supervision and robust safety procedures becomes increasingly important.
Every worker deserves to return home safely at the end of the day.
The latest tragedy in Goa is a reminder that solar panel cleaning should never be approached casually.
Working at height and electricity remain the two greatest threats facing solar panel cleaners worldwide, and both demand the respect, training and controls that any high-risk activity deserves.
Leave A Comment