For California-based company Sacramento Drilling, the success of building utility-grade solar farms is often contingent on the unpredictable weather conditions of rural Albuquerque, New Mexico. For Robert Leonard,  EHS Manager, and Vic, Assistant Project Manager, ensuring the safety of their crew is essential, and their decision to use Perry Weather has made a substantial impact on the safety of their personnel and their adherence to OSHA policies.

Why Sacramento Drilling Chose Perry Weather

Before integrating Perry Weather, Sacramento Drilling relied on a combination of free weather data sources, such as WeatherBug and the National Weather Service. These sources, however, were not always reliable. “The accuracy varied depending on the cellular service that was in the work area,” Vic explains. This led to significant challenges, especially given the rapid weather changes that can occur in rural New Mexico.

The decision to adopt Perry Weather stemmed from a few key reasons:

• Reliable on-site weather data – Perry Weather pull data from its on-site weather station rather than public weather data sources that may use data from 10-20 miles away. On a rural construction site like SDI’s current New Mexico project, this can make a significant difference.
• Quick and accurate lightning detection – Utilizing the same lightning detection network as NASA and the US Coast Guard, Perry Weather alerts SDI when lightning strikes have occurred in their area.
• Notify all personnel – Using the Perry Weather mobile app, EHS personnel can notify their team of weather risks and potential cab-up/shack-up situations.
• Wind speed risk alerts – When installing solar, wind can pose a significant threat to worker safety. Perry Weather sends alerts when the wind speed could put workers at risk allowing SDI to temporarily pause operations until conditions change.
• Heat index alerts – Perry Weather helps SDI comply with California OSHA guidelines, sending custom alerts letting them know exactly what they need to do when the heat index gets too high.

For SDI, its been essential to have a dependable weather monitoring system in their line of work. Perry Weather’s alerts have become a critical part of their operations, making sure that the team is prepared for any tough weather conditions.

The Benefits of Lightning Detection

For SDI, one of the most useful Perry Weather features is lightning detection. The system allows SDI to set alerts at different distances. Vic has set the system to send alerts at 30 miles, 15 miles, and 10 miles with different instructions for each. At 30 miles, SDI begins prepping their equipment, especially equipment with high masts.  At 15 miles, they start getting their crew and equipment ready for the incoming storm, and at 10 miles, all operations are stopped, and the team is moved to a safe area. The lighting policy alerts allow the team at SDI to be proactive in preventing accidents, ensuring that all personnel are cabbed up before a storm hits.

After taking shelter, SDI is no longer guessing when it is safe to continue working. Using the lighting countdown timer, SDI now knows the moment that it is safe to resume activities. Once Perry Weather displays the all-clear signal, workers are then notified to continue working.

Managing Precipitation: Staying Prepared

Precipitation is also a big factor that impacts the safety and efficiency of SDI’s operations. Sacramento Drilling has set a policy for precipitation at one inch, meaning that site is evaluated and they adjust the work schedule to account for the conditions.

When digging trenches for electrical installations, SDI often has to work around heavy precipitation. If there is a significant amount of rainfall affecting the worksite, SDI may have to pump water out of the trenches. Given this, it is important for SDI to know how much rainfall has occurred so that they can prepare equipment in advance and stay on schedule. 

Perry Weather lets SDI know what to expect for the day, letting the team plan and adapt their activities accordingly. This ensures that they are not caught off guard by sudden downpours that could create hazardous working conditions or work delays.

The Importance of Wind Monitoring

Wind monitoring is another important weather condition that affects solar installation projects. Sacramento Drilling has implemented wind policies at 20 mph and 30 mph to safeguard their operations. “We have to make sure our torque tubes don’t get blown off or dropped because then it becomes a safety issue,” Vic notes. Mobile wind alerts enable the team to halt operations and secure equipment before winds reach dangerous levels.

By integrating wind monitoring into their safety policies, Sacramento Drilling has minimized the risks associated with high winds, such as equipment damage and potential injuries. Before Perry Weather, monitoring wind was a completely manual action and required that measurements be taken onsite prior to any wind-sensitive activities. Now, advance warnings from Perry Weather ensure that the team can act swiftly and efficiently, maintaining a safe work environment.

Perry Weather’s CAL OSHA Heat Stress Policies

In addition to lightning detection, wind monitoring, and precipitation management, Perry Weather plays a crucial role in helping Sacramento Drilling comply with regulatory requirements, such as Cal/OSHA’s heat stress policies. Working in the harsh conditions of rural New Mexico, the team must be vigilant about the risks of heat stress.

Perry Weather provides timely alerts when the heat index reaches critical levels. These alerts, which can be sent via text message or email, allow Robert Leonard and his team to implement necessary precautions. As Robert notes, “When the actual heat index kicks on, I actually get an alert, whether it be through my text message or email system. And then I’m able to forward that alert through our mass text messaging system.”

By automating these alerts, Perry Weather ensures that Sacramento Drilling stays compliant with Cal OSHA regulations without additional administrative burden. “I don’t even have to think about Cal OSHA policies, because Perry Weather does it for me,” Robert adds. This feature not only enhances safety but also streamlines operations, allowing the team to focus on their primary tasks with the confidence that they are meeting all regulatory requirements.

Overall, Perry Weather has become an indispensable tool for Sacramento Drilling, enhancing their ability to safeguard their team and maintain efficient operations in challenging weather conditions.

“Perry Weather makes it very easy for me to go throughout my day because I know that Perry Weather’s there for me to make sure that when a lightning alert happens or if we have an impending storm, they’re there for me to actually give me that alert, and I can get that out to my crew so I can make sure they’re safe.”

Robert Leonard, EHS Manager, SDI

By leveraging Perry Weather, Sacramento Drilling continues to prioritize safety while building the solar infrastructure.