The renewable energy sector is transforming the way we generate and manage power. From large-scale solar farms and wind turbines to battery storage facilities and supporting electrical infrastructure, the industry continues to expand.
But as renewable energy infrastructure grows, so does the need for workers to safely access, inspect and maintain it.
Technicians may need to reach solar arrays, electrical equipment, poles, structures and other elevated assets - often outdoors, on uneven terrain and around electrical hazards.
For safety managers, the challenge isn't simply providing access. It's making sure the access solution is appropriate for the task, terrain and hazards workers encounter on site.
Why Height Safety Matters in Renewable Energy
Renewable energy assets require ongoing inspection, servicing and maintenance throughout their operational life.
Depending on the facility, workers may need to access:
- Solar panels and mounting structures
- Electrical cabinets and equipment
- Transformers and substations
- Overhead electrical infrastructure
- Wind energy infrastructure
- Battery energy storage facilities
- Lighting and communications equipment
- Monitoring systems
- Plant and machinery
Each task can present a different combination of hazards.
Branach's approach to height safety starts with recognising that as soon as both feet leave the ground, the risks associated with working at height need to be considered.
It's Not Just the Height That Creates Risk
When people think about working at height, the distance from the ground is often the first consideration.
In renewable energy environments, however, the surrounding conditions can be equally important.
1. Uneven and Changing Terrain
Solar farms, wind farms and other renewable energy installations are frequently located across large outdoor areas where the ground may be sloped, rocky, soft or uneven.
A conventional ladder relies heavily on a stable base. When the surface isn't level, workers may be tempted to improvise by digging out the ground or placing objects beneath a ladder foot.
That's where equipment designed specifically for variable terrain becomes valuable.
Branach's TerrainMaster, for example, provides individually adjustable legs and can accommodate slopes of up to 15 degrees. Its base can be widened from 925 mm to 1440 mm, helping reduce lateral movement while eliminating the need for makeshift levelling methods.
The principle is simple: the equipment should adapt to the terrain - not the worker improvising to make the equipment fit.
2. Electrical Hazards
Electricity is an obvious consideration across the renewable energy sector.
Solar installations, substations, battery systems and supporting electrical infrastructure can all place workers close to electrical equipment.
This makes ladder material an important part of equipment selection.
Unlike aluminium, fibreglass provides electrically resistant properties, which is why it is widely used for access equipment in electrical environments.
Branach ladders use a fibreglass box-rail construction that is electrically resistant while also designed to reduce twist, sway and bounce.
Fibreglass equipment should never be treated as a substitute for electrical isolation or safe electrical work procedures. It should form part of a broader risk-management approach appropriate to the task.
3. Weather and Environmental Exposure
Renewable energy infrastructure is deliberately positioned where natural resources are strongest - which often means workers are exposed to the elements.
Wind, rain, UV exposure, heat, dust, salt and moisture can all affect both the worker and their equipment.
This is particularly relevant for:
Solar farms, where workers may spend long periods outdoors in exposed locations.
Wind energy, where sites can be remote and exposed to changing weather conditions.
Coastal and offshore renewable installations, where salt and moisture can accelerate corrosion of equipment.
Access equipment therefore needs to be selected not only for today's task but also for the environment in which it will spend its working life.
4. Corrosion Can Become a Height-Safety Issue
Corrosion is sometimes considered primarily a maintenance problem.
When you're talking about equipment supporting a person at height, however, material degradation can become a safety concern.
This is particularly important for renewable infrastructure located near coastal environments or where equipment may be exposed to chemicals, moisture or other corrosive conditions.
For particularly harsh environments, Branach offers its CorrosionMaster Series, which uses marine-grade 316 stainless-steel metal components and replaces aluminium rungs with fibreglass rungs.
Selecting equipment for its operating environment can help improve service life while reducing the likelihood of corrosion-related deterioration.
5. Stability Shouldn't Be an Afterthought
A ladder may meet the required standard, but workers still need to position, climb and work from it in real-world conditions.
Movement, flex and instability can affect how confidently and effectively a technician performs a task.
Branach's fibreglass box-rail construction is designed to significantly reduce twist and sway compared with C-section ladder designs, while the Strongbox joining system bonds the rungs into the sidewall to provide structural strength and stability.
For renewable energy operations where workers may repeatedly climb throughout a shift, seemingly small improvements in stability can make a meaningful difference to the working experience.
Choosing the Right Access Solution for the Task
There isn't one ladder that solves every renewable energy access challenge.
Before selecting equipment, safety managers should consider questions such as:
- What height does the worker need to reach?
- Can the task be performed from the ground or a solid structure instead?
- What is the condition and slope of the ground?
- Are electrical hazards present?
- Will the equipment be exposed to salt, chemicals or moisture?
- How frequently will the ladder be used?
- Does the worker need both hands available while completing the task?
- Is extended-duration work required?
- How will tools and equipment be managed?
- What happens if a worker falls or needs to be rescued?
- What inspection and maintenance program will support the equipment?
This reflects a broader principle in height safety: start with the task and its hazards, then select the access equipment - not the other way around.
When a Ladder Alone Isn't Enough
Some renewable energy maintenance tasks involve more complex risks than simply reaching an elevated position.
Where the risk assessment identifies the need for additional fall protection, safety managers may need to consider equipment incorporating stabilisation, tethering, fall protection and rescue capabilities.
Branach's Fall Control System, for example, combines higher-stability features with an integrated tethering kit, lifeline and rescue capability. Branach's Australian range also includes the All Terrain Step Platform and All Terrain Extension ladders for applications requiring increased stability.
The appropriate solution should always be determined by the task-specific risk assessment, relevant regulations and applicable standards.
Don't Overlook Inspection and Maintenance
Renewable energy sites can be demanding on equipment.
Ladders may be transported between sites, carried across uneven ground, exposed to weather and used by multiple technicians.
Regular inspection therefore needs to be part of the height-safety strategy.
Before use, equipment should be checked for signs of:
- Damage to fibreglass rails
- Cracks or structural damage
- Worn or damaged feet
- Damaged rungs or platforms
- Loose components
- Contamination
- Corrosion
- Damage to ropes, locks or moving components
- Missing or illegible safety labels
Equipment that appears damaged should be removed from service and assessed appropriately.
Branach also provides onsite inspection and repair services, with equipment condition information able to be recorded for asset management purposes.
Height Safety Needs to Evolve With Renewable Energy
The transition to renewable energy isn't simply creating new ways to generate electricity. It's creating new workplaces, new maintenance requirements and new access challenges.
As renewable infrastructure expands, organisations have an opportunity to build safer work practices into their operations from the beginning.
That means moving beyond simply asking:
"How do we get the worker up there?"
and asking:
"How can they access the task, complete the work and return to the ground as safely as possible?"
That change in thinking is important.
Engineering Access for Real-World Conditions
At Branach, height safety has always been about understanding how people actually work.
Our fibreglass extension ladders, step platforms, higher-stability solutions, TerrainMaster system, CorrosionMaster range and Fall Control System have been developed for demanding industries where electrical hazards, difficult terrain and challenging environments are part of everyday work.
As renewable energy infrastructure continues to evolve, the access equipment supporting the people who maintain it needs to evolve with it.
Because building a safer energy future should also mean creating a safer workplace for the people making it possible.
Need help identifying the right height-safety solution for your renewable energy application?
Talk to the Branach team about your site, application and access requirements.
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Height Safety in the Renewable Energy Sector: Managing Risk as the Industry Grows