Featured Brands
Solar Industry Gear
Featured Videos
Solar Industry Technician Equipment and Gear
The solar industry has seen explosive growth over the past decade. In fact - over that last decade solar has had a yearly growth rate of 59%. At GME Supply we pride ourselves on staying current with industry trends. Our Gear Experts® make a difference by helping keep hard working solar technicians safe and productive while on the job. In the field, and while at-height, solar industry technicians need gear to keep them safe and ready for the job at hand. Whether you are looking for bags & buckets, harnesses, helmets, gloves, safety glasses, rescue equipment, or tools, we’ve got you covered.
Solar industry maintenance and construction equipment can be divided into two broad categories: Tools and Safety Equipment. The tools help you complete the job, and safety equipment is the gear that keeps you safe while working. The fall protection roots of GME position us to uniquely meet the needs of the solar industry. What kind of equipment you use can range depending on your unique job. Below we have outlined some of the most common equipment you may need.
Harnesses:
Your harness is the focal point of your gear. Your harness should be comfortable, yet secure and allow fluid movement. Some features to look for would be reinforced seams, quick-connect buckles, webbing, and weatherproofing.
PPE:
PPE is a broad category - so let’s cover a little bit about each of the types of PPE you might need is the solar industry.
Safety Glasses:
When picking out safety glasses some of the factors that you should consider include impact grade, clear vision, 180-degree viewing area, adjustable fit, friction adjustment, and built-in side shields. For more information on safety glasses standards click here [insert link here] to check out our blog post.
Gloves:
Like jobsites, gloves are extremely diverse. What pair of gloves you will need will be dependent on the job at hand. Some things to keep in mind when picking out your next pair of gloves will be style, cut resistant, chemical resistance, specialty protection, and durability.
FR Apparel:
When it comes to working in the solar industry fire can be a real concern. That’s why we have built a section specifically for fire resistant gear. We offer a range of different shirts, pants, sleeves, bib overalls, and much more - all officially rated as fire resistant gear.
High-Visibility (Hi-Vis) Apparel:
There are many low visibility areas when working in the solar industry. Not to mention, mother nature doesn’t make every day sunny. Having a hi-vis apparel ensures that you can be seen in low light conditions. Some of the features to look for when picking your work wear include reflective tape, velcro or snap fastening, waterproof fabric, and thermal lining.
Bags & Buckets:
Bags and buckets provide added protection and convenience while on the job. Our selection of bags & buckets come in a wide variety and have features including flame resistance, chemical resistance, separate inside pockets, and leather stitched bottoms for added strength.
Anchorage:
Anchorage is an important part of any setup when working in the solar industry. It doesn’t matter what gear you have and how strong it is if there is nothing to attach your gear to. When looking at anchorage choices some things to keep in mind are whether or not the anchorage is permanent, WLL (working load limit), and how many people it can support.
Positioning:
Positioning lanyards have been specifically designed to help position you when working. A positioning lanyard should only be used in conjunction with a backup fall arrest device. When it comes to choosing which positioning lanyard is best for the job at hand a few things to look for are length, width, connection points, adjustable vs. traditional, and standards.
SRLs:
No one wants to think about falling while on the job. But, sometimes accidents happen. It is up to us to make sure that in the event of a fall there are safety measures in place to ensure that everyone stays as safe as possible. That’s where an SRL comes into play. A Self-Retracting Lifeline, or SRL, is a device that contains a spring-loaded retracting web or cable lanyard wound around an internal drum. It automatically locks and arrests the fall of a worker.
When shopping for SRLs some key things to look for are: class (a vs. b), length, style (body worn vs. mounted), and specialty applications.
Your gear is the key to your safety. If you have any questions about what gear is right for you, or simply need help finding that gear, click here to contact one of our Gear Experts®.