In Solar PV Installation, Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) are a common way to work at height - and a common source of falls when they are misused. This guide explains how Solar PV Installation teams in Ireland use Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) safely, and why a Working at Heights Course ties it all together.
Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) in Solar PV Installation: where the risk lies
A solar crew mounting panels on a commercial shed roof in Wexford, balancing panel handling, edge protection and live DC cabling. Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) are suited to reaching over obstacles and to height where an articulating or telescopic boom is needed, but in a Solar PV Installation setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts)
Before any Solar PV Installation worker uses Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts), confirm that:
- Ground assessment for stability and voids
- Overhead and electrical clearances confirmed
- Function and emergency-lowering checks before use
- Harness and short restraint lanyard clipped to the anchor
The relevant standard here is EN 280, operated by IPAF 3b card holders with a worn, in-date harness and restraint lanyard.
Common Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) faults to never ignore
- No rescue plan
- Catapult risk when the basket snags and frees
- Untrained operators
- Soft or sloping ground
The solar boom has put far more workers on roofs; edge protection and fragile-roof controls are non-negotiable.
The Working at Heights Course makes compliance simple
The practical fix is straightforward. Our Working at Heights Course is delivered fully online, takes about 45 minutes, and issues a downloadable certificate the same day. It is CPD certified, RoSPA approved and QQI aligned, and it is written specifically for Solar PV Installation teams using Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts).
The Working at Heights Training covers the avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy, ladder and stepladder safety, MEWPs and scaffolds, harnesses and anchor points, and how to carry out a proper risk assessment. Every learner finishes with a recognised Working at Heights Certificate that stands up to HSA inspection and supports your insurance position.
Training that goes beyond the tick-box
Competence is not the same as experience. A worker who has used ladders for twenty years can still carry twenty years of bad habits. Refresher training matters for Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) in Solar PV Installation precisely because confidence drifts away from the rules over time, and a quick refresher resets it.
Young and new workers are over-represented in fall statistics, and Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) in Solar PV Installation is no exception. Setting good habits from the very first day - never climbing on furniture, never overreaching, always inspecting equipment - is far easier than unlearning bad ones later. Early certification with a Working at Heights Course pays back for an entire career.
Frequently asked questions
Do Solar PV Installation workers need training to use Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts)?
Yes. Safe use of Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) is part of working at height. A Working at Heights Course covers selection, inspection and safe use for Solar PV Installation tasks.
How often should Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) be inspected?
Before every use by the operator, plus formal recorded inspections to the relevant standard. Keep the logs for HSA inspection.
Is online training enough for Solar PV Installation height work?
Our online Working at Heights Training covers the legal and safe-system knowledge; equipment-specific practical tickets (such as IPAF or PASMA) are added where the task requires them.
Get certified today
Do not wait for an HSA inspection or a near miss to act. Solar PV Installation teams can complete the Working at Heights Course online in 45 minutes and download a certificate the same day. For 10 or more learners, see our team training rates, or contact our team for a tailored quote.
Start the online Working at Heights Training now and put a recognised certificate in every worker's file before the next job at height begins.
