TUMWATER, Wash. — A residential solar installation company with a long record of safety violations is again facing steep penalties. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has fined Purelight Power LLC more than $250,000 for allowing employees to work on rooftops without required fall protection.

L&I inspectors recently found two workers removing solar panels from a steep-pitched roof in Vancouver, Washington. The men were 15 feet off the ground without harnesses or other fall prevention gear.

"No homeowner wants someone to get hurt or killed while working on their roof," said Cari Anderson, deputy assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. "The public should absolutely take advantage of L&I’s resources and information online to look into the safety history of the companies they’re hiring."

Pattern of Violations

Purelight Power — formerly operating under the name Solgen Power — has been cited repeatedly for similar offenses:

• February 2025 (Tacoma): $99,000 in fines for three workers repairing solar panels without fall protection up to 20 feet high. Under appeal.
• January 2025 (Clarkston): $105,600 fine for workers installing panels without protection and misusing ladders. Not appealed.
• 2024 (Battle Ground): $66,000 fine for a repeat serious violation involving unprotected workers carrying solar panels onto a roof. Fine upheld.

Since 2021, L&I has conducted 11 inspections of the company that revealed safety issues, particularly with fall prevention. Purelight currently owes over $460,000 in unpaid penalties, though fines under appeal do not have to be paid immediately.

Why Fall Protection Matters

Falls remain one of the leading causes of death in construction. More than 1,600 workers in Washington are injured in falls each year — a number regulators say could be dramatically reduced through proper equipment, training, and safety planning.

Under state law, employees working four feet or more above ground must have and use protective equipment such as anchored ropes, harnesses, and guardrails. This applies to work on rooftops, excavations, and areas near dangerous machinery.

Company's Latest Penalties

For this latest case, L&I issued four willful serious violations to Purelight Power, along with citations for:

• Misusing ladders
• Failing to provide adequate training
• Not maintaining a written fall protection plan

A "willful" violation means the employer knew or should have known the safety requirements but ignored them anyway. A "serious" violation means it could cause serious injury or death.

The $253,823 fine will go into Washington’s workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, which supports injured workers and the families of those killed on the job.

Advice for Homeowners

L&I urges residents to research contractors before hiring, especially for dangerous work like roofing or solar installation. The agency’s Verify a Contractor tool allows homeowners to check whether a company is licensed, bonded, insured, and to view its full safety record.

"We want to make sure no worker has to risk their life just to do their job," Anderson said.

Originally reported by Washington State Department Of Labor and Industries.