Solar Energy - Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy - page 97

Personal Protective Equipment *
Using personal protective equipment (PPE) is often essential, but it is generally the
last line of defense after engineering controls, work practices, and administrative
controls. Solar energy employers must assess their workplace to determine if haz-
ards are present that require the use of protective equipment. Solar energy workers
can be exposed to many hazards that may require the use of safety glasses, hard
hats, gloves, respirators, or other personal protective equipment, and workers must
use them. Electrical protective equipment must be maintained in a safe and reliable
condition. They must be periodically inspected or tested.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS
3.1 The sun has been described in many ways. How would you describe the sun?

3.2 Is there a difference between solar energy and solar power? Explain.

3.3 Do you feel that solar energy can eventually replace nonrenewable energy

sources?

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READING
Anderson, M.T. and Woosley, Jr., L.H. (2005). Water Availability for the Western United
States—Key Scientific Challenges , Circular 51. Washington, DC: U.S. Geological
Survey.
Anon. (2013). Solar power boom fuels increase in hazardous waste sent to dumps. The Blade ,
February 11 ( http://www.toledoblade.com/Energy/2013/02/11/Solar-power-boom-fuels-
increase-in-hazardous-waste-sent-to-dumps.html).
Argonne National Laboratory. (2009). Scoping comments to the Solar Energy Development
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) and Solar Energy Study Areas,
http://solareis.anl.gov/.
Aspen Environmental Group. (2011). California Valley Solar Ranch Conditional Use Permit,
and Twisselman Reclamation Plan and Conditional Use Permit: Final Environmental
Impact Report (DRC2008-00097, DRC 2009-00004) . Prepared for County of San Luis
Obispo Department of Planning and Building by Aspen Environmental Group, San
Francisco, CA ( http://www.sloplanning.org/EIRs/CaliforniaValleySolarRanch/index.
htm).
Baker, M.S. (1990). Modeling complex daylighting with DOE 2.1-C. DOE-2 User News ,
11(1): 1-15.
Baylon, D. and Storm, P. (2008). Comparison of commercial LEED buildings and non-LEED
buildings within the 2002-2004 Pacific Northwest commercial building stock. In:
Proceedings for ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Stockholm,
Sweden: European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.
Bierman, A. (2007). Photosensors: dimming and switching systems for daylight harvesting.
National Lighting Product Information Program , 11(1) ( http://www.lighignreserach.
org/programs/NLPIP/PDF/View/SR_Photosensors.pdf).

* Adapted from OSHA's Green Job Hazards Solar Energy—Personal Protective Equipment , http://
www.osha.gov/dep/greenjobs/solar_ppe.html.