Accident involving solar panel load kills worker in São Paulo state

A 41-year-old informal worker died last Tuesday (22), in São Carlos (SP), after being hit by a pallet with approximately 300 kg of solar panels while helping to unload the material in a warehouse.

According to the police report, Daniel Junio dos Santos died while moving cargo with a forklift after one of the pallets slipped. While attempting to stop the fall, he was struck by the structures and succumbed to his injuries, dying at the scene.

SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service) and Fire Department teams were called to respond to the incident. The Scientific Police conducted an investigation, and the case was recorded as an accidental death. The circumstances of the accident remain under investigation.

The victim's body was sent to the IML (Legal Medical Institute) and buried on Wednesday afternoon (23), at the Nossa Senhora do Carmo Cemetery, in São Carlos (SP). 

Lack of security raises alarm bells

The tragedy raises yet another alarm for the solar sector, which has been growing rapidly in Brazil but still faces significant challenges in training professionals and enforcing safety standards, in this case during the transportation and handling of equipment.

Solar panels, although associated with clean energy, are large and heavy structures. Their transportation and unloading require specific safety protocols, including the use of PPE and adequate technical supervision.

Informal hiring processes and a lack of training significantly increase the risk of accidents like this, as explained Yanael Medeiros, engineer at CS Consultoria. The professional explains that the panels must be treated as special cargo — which includes operational restrictions, prior planning, and defined procedures to prevent falls or collisions.

"Modules are structures that weigh an average of 22 kg and must be stored on pallets for proper transportation. When unloading trucks, it's essential to adopt safe practices, especially when using heavy machinery such as forklifts or cranes," she emphasized.

The professional also emphasized that the use of PPE, such as helmets, gloves, boots with toe caps, and reflective vests, is mandatory and essential. Furthermore, she emphasized that the area must be isolated and marked, with unloading performed by a trained team, following standardized operating procedures. 

"The ground must be stable to prevent landslides, and the operation must be continuously supervised. Outsourcing to unqualified individuals without safety certifications poses a significant risk to the safety of both the professional and the team. For services of this type, which involve heavy equipment, good planning is essential, always prioritizing the safety of the professionals involved," he emphasized. 

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