Product Overview

Summary: This Solar Farm Emergency Response Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for managing fires, electrical incidents, severe weather and medical emergencies on utility-scale and commercial solar sites. It is designed to protect workers, visitors, assets and the environment while supporting compliance with Australian WHS legislation and emergency services requirements.

Operating a solar farm in Australia presents a unique combination of electrical, environmental and remote-location risks that demand a robust and well-rehearsed emergency response system. This Solar Farm Emergency Response Safe Operating Procedure provides a practical, site-ready framework for responding to incidents such as DC arc faults, inverter fires, battery energy storage events, severe storms, bushfires, medical emergencies and unauthorised access. It sets out who does what, when and how – from the first person on scene through to liaison with emergency services and the return to normal operations.

The procedure is tailored to the realities of solar farm operations: large land areas, distributed equipment, high-voltage infrastructure, live DC circuitry, wildlife exposure and often limited immediate access to external emergency support. It helps businesses meet their duties under Australian WHS legislation by formalising communication pathways, escalation triggers, isolation and shutdown sequences, muster arrangements and incident documentation. By implementing this SOP, solar operators can demonstrate due diligence, improve emergency readiness across all shifts and contractors, and significantly reduce the likelihood that an incident escalates into a serious injury, major asset loss or prolonged outage.

Key Benefits

• Strengthen emergency readiness for solar-specific events such as DC faults, inverter and BESS incidents, and severe weather impacts.
• Ensure clear roles, responsibilities and communication pathways during an emergency, reducing confusion and response delays.
• Reduce the risk of serious injury, equipment damage and extended downtime through structured escalation and shutdown procedures.
• Support compliance with WHS legislation, electrical safety requirements and insurance expectations for high-value renewable assets.
• Standardise emergency training and drills across employees, contractors and control room staff, improving consistency across all sites.

Who is this for?

• Solar Farm Owners and Operators
• Site Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• O&M (Operations and Maintenance) Supervisors
• Electrical Engineers and Supervisors
• Control Room and Monitoring Centre Staff
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Emergency Wardens and First Aiders
• Construction Project Managers (Solar Projects)
• EPC Contractors’ HSE Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Electrical shock and arc flash from high-voltage AC and DC systems
• DC arcing and inverter or combiner box fires
• Battery energy storage system (BESS) thermal runaway and off-gassing
• Bushfire exposure and grass fires within or adjacent to the solar farm
• Severe weather events (storms, lightning, high winds, hail and extreme heat)
• Remote and isolated work, including delayed emergency response times
• Vehicle and plant incidents on site access roads and within array fields
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven or vegetated terrain
• Heat stress, dehydration and other environmental health impacts
• Unauthorised access, vandalism and security-related incidents

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and References
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Emergency Control Organisation
• 5.0 Site Description and Critical Infrastructure Overview
• 6.0 Emergency Communication and Escalation Protocols
• 7.0 Alarm, Notification and Incident Reporting Requirements
• 8.0 Initial Response Actions for All Emergencies (DRSABCD, Scene Safety)
• 9.0 Electrical Incident and Arc Flash Response Procedures
• 10.0 Fire Response – Inverter, DC Cabling, BESS and Grass Fires
• 11.0 Medical Emergency and Remote/Isolated Work Response
• 12.0 Severe Weather, Lightning, Storm and Heatwave Procedures
• 13.0 Bushfire Threat and Off-site Fire Interface Procedures
• 14.0 Hazardous Atmospheres and BESS Off-gassing Response
• 15.0 Security Incidents, Unauthorised Access and Bomb Threats
• 16.0 Site Evacuation, Muster Points and Headcount Procedures
• 17.0 Emergency Shutdown and Isolation of PV Arrays and Inverters
• 18.0 Coordination with External Emergency Services
• 19.0 Post-Incident Actions, Incident Investigation and Debrief
• 20.0 Training, Induction and Emergency Drill Requirements
• 21.0 Document Control, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and equivalent state and territory regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – First Aid in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)
• AS/NZS 5033:2021 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
• AS 3745:2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities
• AS 4777 (series): Grid connection of energy systems via inverters
• Relevant state-based Electrical Safety Acts and Regulations (e.g. Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld))