Um 17 year old, identified as Guilherme Cardoso Doná, died after receiving a electric discharge on top of the roof of a house in Ariquemes (RO), during the last weekend.
According to g1 RO and Rede Amazônica, a witness told the Civil Police that Guilherme had climbed on the roof to help a friend wash a solar panel and, at one point, he ended up stepping on a gutter that was energized by a bare wire.
He ended up receiving a electric shock and fell unconscious. The Fire Department reported that the military tried resuscitation procedures for around 30 minutes, but the victim did not resist.
Electric arc risks in photovoltaic systems and safety solutions
In view of what happened, the warning that remains is about the importance of hiring qualified professionals and to have a suitable design, passing through a correct commissioning of the plant and a periodic maintenance. This is what electrical engineer Geraldo Silveira, professor at the Canal Solar.
“When the human body comes into contact with an uninsulated conductor, it will form a path for the circulation of electrical current, which can cause everything from mild injuries, such as minor burns, to more serious cases, such as ventricular fibrillation, which can lead to arrest. cardiorespiratory,” he explained.
According to Silveira, the situation worsens when the electric current circulates through the path where the heart is, which can cause the heart to beat out of rhythm and lead to the most serious cases mentioned above (cardiorespiratory arrests).
18-year-old young man suffers electrical shock during installation of PV system
“Therefore, there are some important measures to avoid accidents with electric shock. A well-designed project will ensure that the plant has an adequate grounding system and the necessary protections to prevent electrical discharge,” he said.
“In correct commissioning, we will ensure that the entire plant is safe to be energized, especially if the conductors are properly insulated, if there are no sharp points that could lead the system to insulation failure and carrying out specific tests for this stage”, highlighted the expert.
With periodic maintenance, he stated that it will be possible to certify that electrical installations remain safe, through activities such as visual inspections, retightening of connections, electrical tests and verification of equipment and checking of the grounding system.
