Federal regulators have cited solar panel company Sunrun Installation Services for allegedly exposing workers to what were described as “deadly” fall hazards in the Chicago suburbs, the U.S. Department of Labor said Monday.
Investigators for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found Sunrun workers were installing solar panels at heights of up to 18 feet without required protection from falls, according to citations issued by the agency. The citations are tied to investigations that took place during solar panel installations over the summer at houses in Oak Park and Skokie.
The Labor Department said Sunrun has been cited previously for similar violations in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
OSHA has proposed fines of about $288,000 tied to the citations. Sunrun, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday, must now either comply with the citations, contest them or request an informal conference with the agency.
“Falls from elevation can cause life-altering and deadly injuries, all of which can be prevented through proper protective equipment and worker training,” OSHA regional director Sukhvir Kaur said in a statement. “Employers who ignore their obligations are putting their workers’ lives and well-being in serious risk.”
Citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data, OSHA said nearly 400 construction workers died of fall-related injuries in 2022.
Recently, the agency has also cited suburban contractors Fino Exterior Inc. and KW Framing Inc. for allegedly putting workers at risk of falls.
