Incident Raises Safety Concerns Over Solar Panel Maintenance Practices
PAKISTAN — July 2025
A Pakistani engineer identified as Ali Murad has reportedly died after being electrocuted while cleaning solar panels with a wet cloth, according to social media reports circulating over the past week. The incident has sparked renewed discussions about safety risks associated with improper cleaning practices in the solar industry.
According to initial reports shared on platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), the fatal accident occurred approximately between July 12 and 13, 2025. Murad is said to have been performing routine cleaning on solar panels when a wet cloth he was using came into contact with energized components of the system, leading to a fatal electric shock.
Details surrounding the incident remain limited. No official statements have been released by local authorities, police, or the company involved, if any. There have been no confirmations from medical or regulatory bodies at this time, and the location of the incident has not been publicly specified beyond reports indicating it occurred somewhere within Pakistan.
What is known, however, is that solar panels generate live electrical current during daylight hours. Moisture, whether from weather conditions or cleaning methods, can create a conductive pathway between energized components and the person handling them. Without proper de-energization, insulation, and protective equipment, cleaning solar panels carries a risk of electric shock.
Reports suggest the panels Murad was working on may not have been properly shut down prior to cleaning, although this remains unconfirmed. It is also unclear whether Murad was working as part of a professional cleaning crew, conducting the work independently, or performing duties as part of his engineering role.
The tragic nature of the accident has led to widespread sharing of safety warnings across social media, particularly within communities focused on solar energy and maintenance. Many professionals within the industry have pointed to this incident as a stark reminder of the importance of observing strict safety protocols when working near or on energized equipment.
Incidents like this underscore the risks associated with failing to follow proper procedures, including ensuring panels are fully de-energized, confirming zero voltage at the array, and using appropriate non-conductive tools and protective gear during any cleaning or maintenance work.
At this time, no further details regarding potential investigations, regulatory responses, or additional safety measures have been announced. The incident remains underreported in mainstream media, but conversations continue within the global solar maintenance community as more professionals take stock of their own safety practices in light of this tragedy.
ISCA Speaks Out on Industry-Wide Safety Standards
The International Solar Cleaning Association (ISCA), which has long emphasized the electrical dangers associated with improper solar panel cleaning, issued renewed calls for heightened awareness and global training standards following the incident.
Steve Williams, a recognized leader in solar safety training and founder of ISCA, has been outspoken for years on the dangers of cleaning energized systems.
“This is exactly the type of tragedy we’ve been trying to prevent,” Williams said in a statement released on ISCA’s member network. “Solar panels are not just passive surfaces. They are energized power generators. Cleaning them without proper shutdown procedures, voltage verification, and training is playing roulette with a live wire.”
Williams has led numerous seminars and training sessions around the world highlighting the importance of electrical safety protocols, including proper lock-out/tag-out procedures, dielectric tool usage, and voltage detection devices for cleaning crews.
ISCA has also developed industry-specific training modules on electrocution risk mitigation, designed for field technicians, engineers, and solar O&M professionals.
In light of the incident, ISCA has reportedly begun circulating a safety alert bulletin to its global membership base, reiterating key safety reminders and urging companies and contractors to review their protocols immediately.
“This isn’t about blame,” Williams continued. “It’s about awareness. We owe it to every technician, every cleaner, every engineer out there to make sure this never happens again.”
The solar panel cleaning industry, still maturing in many parts of the world, is reckoning with the growing realization that what was once treated as a basic maintenance task now carries high-voltage consequences when done improperly.
The death of Ali Murad is a tragic and unnecessary loss. His name will now stand as a reminder of the cost of neglecting the dangers that can exist on a rooftop — dangers that experts like Williams and organizations like ISCA have been warning about for years.
More updates will follow as the story develops.
