L&I Fines Solar Panel Company Over $250,000 for Repeatedly Failing to Protect Workers from Falls

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has issued a significant fine to Purelight Power LLC, a residential solar panel installation company, for consistently failing to protect its workers from falls. The company has been fined over $250,000 for the latest violations, bringing the total amount owed to L&I to over $460,000 since 2021. This is not the first time the company has been cited for similar infractions, with a history of repeat serious violations, including fines for lack of fall protection, misuse of ladders, and inadequate training.

Key Takeaways:

• Purelight Power LLC has been fined over $250,000 for repeatedly failing to protect its workers from falls, a common hazard in the construction industry.
• The company has a history of repeat serious violations, including fines for lack of fall protection, misuse of ladders, and inadequate training.
• The latest inspection found two workers removing solar panels on a rooftop without fall protection gear, 15 feet off the ground.
• The company is facing an additional fine of $3,000 for misusing ladders, lack of training, and not having a written fall protection plan.
• A violation is considered willful if the employer knew or should have known about the rules but ignored them anyway.
• The company is appealing the fine.
• Workers in Washington experience over 1,600 falls every year, leading to significant injuries and deaths.
• The majority of falls in construction are preventable with proper equipment, training, and safety practices.
• Homeowners can research the safety record of their contractor using L&I's Verify a Contractor tool.
• Money collected from fines goes into the workers' compensation supplemental pension fund to support workers and families affected by workplace fatalities.

Statistics:

• Over 1,600 workers in Washington are injured in falls every year.
• Falls in construction are one of the leading causes of death in the industry.
• L&I has cited Purelight Power LLC for 11 inspections since 2021, resulting in fines totaling over $460,000.
• The company has been fined over $250,000 for the latest violations, including four willful serious violations and other worker safety issues.
• The total amount owed to L&I includes fines for lack of fall protection, misuse of ladders, and inadequate training.

Sources:

• Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), "L&I shines a light on solar panel company putting workers at risk of falls," Aug. 7, 2025.
• L&I, "Verify a Contractor tool," accessed Aug. 7, 2025.