Health and safety aspects of new photovoltaic cell manufacturing technologies

Production of thin-film photovoltaic cells entails extensive handling of toxic (e.g., AsH/sub 3/, PH/sub 3/, H/sub 2/Se), and flammable or explosive (e.g., SiH/sub 4/, H/sub 2/) materials. Large scale manufacture of these photovoltaic cells may present potential health and safety hazards to workers and the public. Consequently, analysis of these hazards is required before full commercialization, so that alternative strategies may be developed, safety controls may be incorporated in the initial design, control costs reduced and health risks minimized. In this paper hazards to occupational and public health related to the toxicity and explosiveness of several feedstock gases are evaluated. The largest hazards are posed by accidental gas releases from storage or process systems. The most efficient way to reduce these hazards is to prevent accident initiating events through choice of inherently safer technology and material, appropriate design and construction, and administrative options. If an accidental release happens, engineering (e.g., flow restrictors, scrubbers) and administrative (e.g., emergency response) risk reducing measures will be needed. 13 refs., 1 fig., 5 tabs.